2i 4 COMMON WEEDS 



The Cotton Grasses may be reduced by cutting and 

 by thorough drainage. 



Sedges. In general, Sedges somewhat resemble 

 grasses, both in the leaves and spikelets. A large 

 number of species are known ; they vary widely in 

 their habitat, some favouring the driest soils and others 

 the wettest. 



Common Sedge (Carex vulgaris Fries.) and other 

 species of Carex are common, useless plants of damp 

 meadows and pastures, water meadows, and by the 

 sides of ditches and rivers. The Common Sedge (Fig. 

 64) is a perennial, with narrow erect leaves, and a 

 rough, slender, stiff stem i to 2 feet high. The spike- 

 lets are sessile, from J to i inch in length, and placed 

 three to five together on the axis or stem. The root- 

 stock often creeps extensively. 



On wet soils Sedges may be reduced by draining, 

 regular mowing, and the use of lime and manures. 



Sedges of other species (e.g. Carex prcecox Jacq.) occur 

 on dry pastures and moors, and may have a tufted or 

 creeping rootstock. They more or less resemble the 

 foregoing species. Several kinds with bluish -green 

 leaves, resembling those of the carnation, are termed 

 " Carnation-grasses " by farmers. On dry pastures 

 Sedges should be cut with regularity, and the herbage 

 should be improved by manurial treatment. 



GRAMINE^: 



A large number of grasses must be regarded as 

 weeds, many of them, such as Couch, Fine Bent, and 

 Wild Oat, being directly troublesome in arable farm- 

 ing ; while a large number are worthless members of 

 meadows and pastures, replacing better herbage, and 

 being avoided by stock when richer, more succulent 



