QUACK GRASS. 239 



242), than is now obtained from the grasses which at 

 present occupy the soil. 



Preparing the Soil. As applicable to cultivated 

 farms, it is not necessary to discuss this question; as 

 on the cultivated portions of these the seed of quack 

 grass should not be sown. But if it should be de- 

 sired to sow the same on parts of the semi-arid range 

 country when it is not expected that the soil shall 

 ever be regularly tilled there can be no question but 

 that a stand of the grass would be more quickly obtained 

 on ploughed land than on the unbroken sod. Whether 

 on such sod the seed would grow the author has not 

 been able to ascertain, but the chances are that some 

 of the plants would obtain a hold if the seed were sown 

 in the fall ; when thus started, even though the plants 

 were thin and scattered, the habit of growth in the grass 

 would justify the conclusion that they would spread to 

 the extent of occupying all the land. It is also ques- 

 tionable, if under those conditions, the plants would 

 ever become so thick and matted in their growth as in 

 climates with sufficient rainfall. 



This grass may also be sown on sands too low in fertil- 

 ity for regular cropping and on gravelly, stony and 

 rocky places which never can be tilled. 



Sowing. This grass will doubtless grow sown fall or 

 spring, but it is difficult to obtain seed. Because of the 

 weedlike character of the grass, many seedsmen do 

 not keep it in stock, as it should not be sown on lands 

 that grow other crops. When the seed is sown, there- 

 fore, of necessity it will be without a nurse crop. After 

 a seed bed has been prepared, where this is practicable, 



