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OHIO EXPP]RIMENT STATION: BULLETIN 175 



51 Quack-grass, Couch-grass, Wheat-grass (P) *Agropyron repens L. 

 Quack-grass, Fig-. 11, ranks among the very worst weeds and is found locally 

 in most counties. This grass grows 1 to 3 ft. high, from an extended, creeping, 



= 83 jointed rootstock, bearing spikes 3 to 10 inches 

 long. The rootstocks are of the same character 

 as those found in Johnson-grass and render 

 this one of the most difficult plants to eradicate. 

 A correspondent writes that the rootstocks in 

 his field grew through potato tubers. 



Seeds slender, 3-8 to 1-2 in. long, the en- 

 closing glume apparently three pointed. It is 

 not yet prevalent in the seeds of commerce. 



From what has been already said, it may 

 be inferred that quack-grass is very difficult to 

 destroy and that unless eradicated when found 

 it w r ill, in time, spread indefinitely. Not only 

 must seeding be prevented but the creeping 

 rootstocks must be starved out and destroyed. 

 The method to be employed will be determined 

 somew r hat by the other circumstances. Where 

 there are small areas containing it, they should 

 not be cultivated with the surrounding land. 

 A small area may sometimes be smothered out 

 by covering tightly with boards. Hoe cutting 

 and salting at frequent intervals will be found 

 Fig. 11. Quack-grass. effective. This is especially useful when the 



pest occurs in land pastured by sheep or cattle, 

 will be required to eradicate it and frequently 

 tracts are infested, fences and other harbors 

 should be removed and the whole carefully culti- 

 vated for a few years in some hoed crop. 



52 Spelt (A) *Triticum spelta L. Spelt 

 is like wheat in general character; it differs in 

 the strong tendency of the glumes to adhere to 

 the grain, and in some other characters. 



Complaint reaches us from Michigan, that 

 spelt is becoming a menace to wheat growing, 

 since once admixed in the wheat, it can scarcely 

 be separated and the spelt spoils wheat for 

 flour. The Michigan conditions should be 

 sufficient warning to others to eliminate spelt 

 by avoidance. 



53 Squirreltail-grass (A or B) *Hordeum 

 jubatum L. This weedy grass, Fig. 12, 'seems 

 capable of invading many parts of Ohio. It has 

 come from the west and has been established in 

 several places, particularly is it noticeable about 

 Castalia, Erie Co., and near Toledo. It may 

 spread to many districts not yet infested. The 

 plant is usually 1 ft. high with a dense head 

 two inches or more in length. The long awns 

 and slender, sterile glumes give these so char- Fig. 12. Squirreltail-grass 

 acteristic a look that one can scarcely be mistaken in the plant. It is related 

 to barley. 



In any case two or three years 

 a longer time. When large 



