INDIVIDUAL WEEDS 



Quack Grass (Agropyron repens L. Beauv.) 



Other common names. — Couch grass, quitch grass, twitch grass, 

 scutch grass, quick grass, and witch grass. 



Description. — Quack grass is a perennial plant with very wide 

 spreading underground stems, commonly but improperly called roots. 

 These underground stems very seldom appear more than six inches 

 below the surface of the ground. At short intervals on the under- 

 ground stem buds appear which can send up new plants. Any small 

 bud-bearing portion of this underground stem is capable of pro- 

 ducing a new plant. The underground stems are generally solid 

 throughout and the roots which come from them are fine and fibrous 

 like those of other grasses. The leaves are of various lengths, ranging 

 from three to twelve inches, and are generally of a grayish green color. 

 They are more or less rough on the upper side and smooth beneath. 

 The flowering head is about four inches long and from a fourth to 

 a half of an inch wide. The head is divided into small sections called 

 spikelets. Each spikelet contains from three to seven seeds when 

 mature. The seeds are not easily shelled out and generally the entire 

 spikelet breaks from the stalk. The seeds are usually somewhat less 

 than half an inch long. They may either be awned or not. The 

 seeds are light brown or yellowish when mature. Quack grass is 

 considered one of the worst weeds in Minnesota. 



Quack grass flowers during the latter part of June and ripens 

 its seeds in July. It is propagated by underground stems as well as 

 seeds, and these stems are often scattered on the hoofs of horses or 

 by machinery used in cultivation. The weed grows in many kinds 

 of soil but thrives best in rich soil. It is found in nearly all parts of 

 Minnesota, but most commonly in the southern and western parts of 

 the State. Its seeds occur in wheat, rye, barley, clover, and timothy 

 but still more commonly in brome grass. It is almost impossible to 

 separate the seed from that of brome grass by means of cleaning 

 machinery. Unbroken spikelets are often found in the seed 



Eradication. — Smothering by plowing and thorough bare culture 

 is the best means of eradicating quack grass. The best results will 

 follow when the treatment is given in hot, dry weather after the root 



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