CHAPTER XII 

 WEEDY GRASSES 



Troublesome grasses may be divided into perennials 

 and annuals. Perennial grasses do not become aggres- 

 sive weeds unless they possess running rootstocks. By 

 means of these vegetative organs they spread and main- 

 tain themselves. They are difficult to eradicate because 

 the rootstocks cannot be completely removed frorh the 

 soil except by persistence and care, and any pieces allowed 

 to remain send up new shoots, these forming centers of 

 growth for a new attack. 



The three most common and important weedy peren- 

 nial rootstock-bearing grasses are Bermuda, Johnson 

 grass, and quack grass. The first two are discussed in 

 the paragraphs devoted to these as forage grasses 

 (Bermuda page 73 , Johnson grass page 86) . Quack grass 

 or couch grass (Agropyron repens (L.) Beauv.) is an Old 

 World species, now common in the Northeastern States. 

 It is an erect grass 2 or 3 feet high with flat leaves 1/4 

 to 1/2 inch wide and a narrow head resembling a slender 

 head of wheat. The spikelets are more or less bristle- 

 pointed (or bearded as it would be called in wheat). The 

 rootstocks are slender and inclined to be yellowish as is 

 the base of the stem. The grass is a great pest in 

 meadows and fields, but nevertheless can be utilized for 

 forage when abundant. 



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