CHAP. ix. COUCH-GRASS. 855 



The DAISY (Bellis perennis, L., nat. ord. Composites). We are sorry 

 to have to record this pretty flower (the day's eye) among the weeds 

 which the farmer should endeavour to extirpate. An old writer terms 

 it, we scarcely know why, " the dissembling daisy." Cattle certainly 

 will not eat it, but we know not any further harm about it than that, 

 by means of its rosette of horizontal close-lying leaves, it occupies 

 ground which might bear nutritive plants. Where it grows in great 

 abundance it tells tales of the poverty of the soil, and liberal manuring 

 is the only means of keeping it in check when once it is established. 



GOOSE-GRASS (Galium Aparine, L., nat. ord. Rubiacese), also called 

 catchweed, cleavers, hariif, whiptongue, and goose-tongue. The 

 " seeds " or rather the fruits of this plant are furnished with 

 hooked bristles, which attach themselves to everything that rubs 

 against them, and thus are widely disseminated. Where it is once 

 suffered to establish itself it will not be eradicated without some diffi- 

 culty. It is exceedingly common in hedgerows, and its presence in 

 arable fields indicates richness of the soil : it is very common in the 

 Fens. Poultry are extremely fond of it, and for young turkeys it is 

 almost a necessity. Rabbits eat the herbage. 



COUCH, or common WHEAT-GRASS, TWITCH, or QUITCH (Triticum 

 repens, L., nat. ord. Graminese). This weed appears and flourishes in 

 every soil, and under every possible system of management. If once 

 a field has become infested with it, and especially one that is at all 

 liable to suffer from dampness, the very best fallow will leave some of it 

 in the land, for its creeping netlike underground stems will shoot again 

 as long as any portion of them remains. The most effectual means of 

 destroying it are frequent ploughing and harrowing, naked summer 

 fallows, forking, and collecting the roots with the hand. On prime 

 old pastures couch-grass appears fortunately to be unable to maintain 

 its position. 



KNOT-GRASS (Polygonum aviculare, L., nat. ord. Polygonacese) , known 

 among farmers by the names of surface twitch, red robin, and hogweed, 

 is not a little mischievous amongst both corn and root crops. It must 

 be kept in temporary subjection by the hoe, but unless a system of 

 cropping is adopted which does not allow the plant to seed it is 

 impossible to eradicate it. It is considered one of the greatest curses 

 on light soils, especially on the sharp gravels, and sands. It is found 

 in almost incredible quantity on some of these soils, although they 

 have been skilfully worked, and carefully hoed for generations, and 

 its presence does not necessarily indicate poverty, for it is found in 

 great abundance on soils highly manured by sheep. 



SNAKEWEED (Polygonum Bistorta and P. lapathifolium, L., nat. 

 ord. Polygonacese), or pale-flowered persicaria, infests meadows and 

 corn-fields ; when dry it resembles the folds of a snake, and is of a 

 brownish-red hue and fleshy appearance. It has no smell, but a pecu- 



