20 



account of the long jointed rootstock, each joint of which is capable of 

 producing a new plant. Every bit of the rootstock must therefore be 

 removed from the soil or killed in order to eradicate it. 



Part used. — The most important part of this grass, not only agricul- 

 turally but also pharmaceutically, is its long, tough rhizome or root- 

 stock, creeping along underneath the ground and pushing in every 

 direction. It is pale yellow, smooth, about one-eighth of an inch in 

 diameter, with joints at intervals of about an inch from which slender 

 branching rootlets are produced. 



One of the best methods of destroying this weed is to plow up the 

 roots and burn them. They need not be burned, however, but ma}^ 

 be saved and prepared for the drug market. After the rootstocks 

 have been collected and washed the rootlets should be removed and 

 the rhizome or rootstock (not the rootlets) cut into short pieces about 

 two-fifths of an inch long. An ordinary feed-cutting machine may be 

 used for this purpose. These should then be dried as suggested in 

 the general instructions. 



In the drug trade this plant is generally known as dog grass or 

 triticum. As found in the stores, it is in the form of small, angular 

 pieces, about one-eighth to one-fourth of an inch long, straw colored, 

 shining, and hollow. These pieces are odorless but have a somewhat 

 sweetish taste. 



The fluid extract prepared from dog grass is used in kidney and 

 bladder troubles. 



Imports and prices. — Couch grass is almost wholly an imported arti- 

 cle, some 250,000 pounds coming into this country annually from 

 Europe. The price is about 3 to 7 cents per pound. 



POKEWEED. 



Phytolacca, americaita L. ( Phytolacca dccandra L. ) 



Other common names. — Poke, pigeon-berry, garget, scoke, pocan, 

 coakum, Virginian poke, ink-berry, red-ink-berry, American night- 

 shade, cancer jalap, redweed. (Fig. 10.) 



Range and habitat. — Poke weed is common in rich, moist soil along 

 fence rows, margins of fields, and in uncultivated land from the New 

 England States to Minnesota and south to Florida and Texas. It is 

 native in this country and naturalized in Europe, where it is regarded 

 as an ornamental garden plant. 



Description. — The reddish purple stems, rich green foliage, and clus- 

 ters of white flowers and dark-purple berries give to this plant a rather 

 handsome appearance. Pokeweed attains a height of from 3 to 9 feet 

 from a very large perennial root. It is erect, branched, the stems 

 stout, smooth, green at first, then reddish. On examining a piece of 



18S 



