FIELD HORSE-TAIL, TOAD-PIPE 603 



T. repens. Couch, moreover, has practically no ligule, and the 

 base of the leaf blade is eared similar to that of Fig. 189. 

 The Bents possess no eared base to the leaves, thus resembling 

 Fig. 190, and both of them have well-marked ligules. 



All these grasses are perennials and chiefly propagated by 

 their rhizomes, which in light soils spread very rapidly and ex- 

 tensively in all directions. They send up leafy stems from the 

 nodes, and these enter into competition with whatever crop is 

 being grown. 



To exterminate these weeds they must be removed as com- 

 pletely as possible, and to do this requires judgment and dis- 

 cretion in the use of implements. 



Each piece of stem is capable of independent existence, so that 

 if cut up by the plough, by harrowing when the ground is wet, or 

 other means, the pest is multiplied and spread. 



In a bad case, after ploughing in autumn or spring, the appli- 

 cation of a heavy drag harrow brings out all the larger pieces. 

 If the ground breaks up easily the soil may be loosened from the 

 weed by the roller, and a light harrow then used. After being 

 collected together, the whole should be burnt. 



Before ploughing it is often a good plan to fork out all the 

 worst patches. 



EQUISETAOEJE, — Field Horse-tail, Toad-pipe {Equisetum 

 arvense L.). — A perennial cryptogamic plant with extensive 

 deep-lying rhizomes. Instead of seeds, the plant produces 

 spores in a club-shaped head, and these are spread by the wind 

 in early spring. The spore-bearing stems are short, straight, 

 unbranched, and apparently without leaves. They come up in 

 April, and are followed later by the taller barren stems. Upon 

 the latter, straight branches arise in whorls, and, like the main 

 stem, are grooved. The whole plant is rich in silica, and harsh 

 to the touch. 



It is met with on damp, wet ground, and can only live under 

 soil conditions which prevail on such land. Drainage by com- 



