146 



MORE ABOUT WEEDS 



are about an inch long and open mostly in the morning, 

 like those of the morning glory, with which this plant 



is often confused. The 

 plant is a rapid grower 

 and spreads chiefly by 

 means of its fleshy un- 

 derground stems like 

 the quack grass. The 

 wonderful power of 

 the plant to increase is 

 shown by Figure 82. 

 This illustration clear- 

 ly shows that the un- 

 derground stems put 

 forth strong buds 

 from which shoots 

 grow upward to the 

 surface, and that some 

 of the main under- 



FIG. 82. Bindweed, showing underground ground Stems extend 

 stems at A. A. (Reduced.) 



horizontally several 



inches below the plow line, which fact easily explains the 

 failure of the plow to destroy this plant. 



The bindweed is a most troublesome weed where it once 

 gets a start. It does not spread rapidly when left to 

 itself, but it is extremely difficult to destroy, and small 

 patches of it in cultivated ground are liable to be widely 

 scattered by the cultivating tools. Perhaps the best treat- 

 ment for small patches is to cover the ground a foot or 

 more deep with straw, marsh hay or other litter, leaving 

 it on until it decays. 



