CHAPTER IV 

 The Weeds of Grain and Forage Crops 



The weeds that infest fields of grain and forage crops 

 are commonly introduced with the seed. In many cases, 

 however, the weed roots or seeds may be present in Jhe 

 soil because of neglect of crops previously grown upon the 

 land, or the seeds may be scattered through the fields during 

 autumn, winter, and spring before the grain or forage crop 

 is sown. Consequently the surest way to prevent injury in 

 such fields is to sow clean seed and adopt good agricultural 

 methods. 



Grass Family 



Perhaps the most notorious grain-field plant is Chess or 

 Cheat Grass. In earlier days there was much discussion 

 in regard to the origin of this pernicious plant. The idea 

 was very commonly upheld that wheat turned to Chess, so 

 that under certain conditions, as it was supposed, a farmer 

 might sow good wheat seed and reap only a crop of Chess. 

 It seems likely that this was the basis for the use of the 

 common name Cheat. It has long been known, however, 

 that Chess comes from seed of its own, and not from wheat, 

 so that when the Chess appears it is certain, either that its 

 seed was present in the ground before sowing or that it 

 was mixed in with fertilizers or the wheat that was used 

 for seeding. It is well established that the seed of Chess 

 may lie dormant in the soil for several seasons, and this 



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