148 PERMANENT AND TEMPORARY PASTURES 



Coltsfoot (Tussilago Farfara).— Pastures on poor, stiff 

 clays are not infrequently overrun with this weed. The 

 creeping underground stems render spudding impossible, but 

 the yellow flower-heads, which appear in advance of the leaves 

 during February and March, should be cut, to prevent seed 

 being ripened ; and another cutting when the leaves are about 

 half-grown will weaken the plants. 



Couch, or Twitch (Triticum repens). — A pest that is 

 universally known, and appears to be almost irrepressible. 

 The rootstocks are stout, and minute portions will grow and 

 spread in all directions, robbing the land of its fertility. On 

 light soils which have not been thoroughly cleaned before 

 sowing seeds it is very troublesome, but as the turf becomes 

 consolidated the couch diminishes in quantity, and under good 

 management it eventually disappears. It is never found in 

 rich old pastures. 



Docks {Rumex sp.) are found on all farms. The species 

 most troublesome in grass lands are Rumex obtusifolhis and 

 Rumex crispus, both perennials, flowering and seeding 

 abundantly. In the South of England, the flowering period 

 is about the first or second week in June, and the destruction 

 of plants should be accomplished before that time. By means 

 of the docking iron, when the ground has been softened by 

 rain, the whole of the tap-root can be removed, and it is 

 important not to leave a remnant, or fresh growth will give 

 renewed trouble. Should there be no opportunity of drawing 

 the roots, frequent cutting at the collar will weaken the 

 docks, and when persistently followed up will reduce then- 

 numbers. It is a mischievous practice to throw docks into 

 ditches or under hedges ; very little moisture is requisite to 

 maintain life and enable them to perfect seed. 



Comparatively few samples of clover harvested in this 

 country are entirely free from dock seed, but it is true 

 economy to ensure a pure sample. 



