14 



FIG. 2. 



CHESS, CHEAT OR WHEAT THIEF. 

 Bromus secalinus (L). 



A weed naturalized from Europe. It is a winter annual, with fibrous 

 roots and rough coarse leaves. It has large spikelets, dark green in 

 color, of characteristic shape, and grows from three to four feet high. 



Many look upon Chess as degenerated wheat, because it appears 

 among fall wheat that has been winter-killed. This idea is erroneous 

 and without foundation. The fact is that Chess will mature seed under 

 adverse conditions, even though the plant be only a few inches high. The 

 seed possesses great vitality, and is often found in wheat and rye. 



Chess is most commonly found among wheat and rye. 



The flour made from it is dark-colored and has narcotic principles. 

 Care in the selection of seed grain and careful cultivation, tending to pre- 

 vent the maturing of the seeds, are the chief remedies. The planting of 

 a crop that can be harvested before the Chess matures is a good plan in 

 badly infested localities. An average plant produces about 1,000 seeds. 



Time of flowering, June. Time of seeding, July. 



" Chess is a typical plant belonging to the genus Bromus. Wheat 

 belongs to the genus Triticum. Chess will prod ace Chess and only 

 Chess, and a seed of wheat cannot be sown to produce Chess, and Chess can- 

 not produce wheat under the most favorable conditions of growth. 



" In instances where parts of a plant, apparently a combination of 

 Chess and wheat were so united as to seem but one plant, close examina- 

 tion proved them to be parts of separate plants, and that the apparent 

 union was not real." 



Eradication. Avoid fall sown crops, and follow as far as practicable 

 the same method as is recommended for Mustard. In this case, however, 

 the meadow will require special attention, and any weeds that appear 

 must be removed. If many weeds appear in the meadow, it will be better 

 to break it up and follow the rotation suggested under Fox-tail. 



