The Union and eastern journal. [volume] (Biddeford [Me.]) 1854-1858, 1854-12-01
Comfort to those who grow Couch Grass

This grass TO which so many names have
been given, and which on account OF Its BE-
ing so difficult to kill, is most generally
known by the expressive name ot "wilch
grass" Is considered by some as curse,
and by others blessing. In gar,lens, where
you cannot put in the plow on account of
the shrubbery, Sc, but have to cultivate by
spade and hand hoe, it is a very serious pest,
but in field culture, it is not, after all, so
very formidable, provided you plow it right,
and rise the horse hoe or cultivator seasona-
bly,. We had field covered with il last
spring. This was plowed with one Of the
Michigan double plows, a plow, by the way.
which we very much like. The forward
plow turned furrow about four inches
thick, and dropped it into the bottom OF the
furrow previously made This took slice
of the witch grass down to its roots, and
plunged il to the bottom of furrow eight
or ten inches deep. The next mould board
followed and covered it completely out OF
sight, so that when the ground ploushing
was finished, scarcely n sprig OF it was seen.
OF course it did not trouble tho crop during
the summer.
But this process cid not kill it. Since
| the fall rains came on il shows itself again.
Probably Il deeper furrow would keep it
down. Ii can thus be kept down during
the summer ut least, while you wish to cnl-
tiyatc the land to other summer crops. II
you wish to raise grass for grazing, or hay
crop, we really do not know Of better va
riety.
We find that the opinion or belief in its
- f.r nv
moving is ginning ground. We find in the
recently published transactions of the n, IL.
Agricultural Society, that committee in q
report upon grasses last year, to said socic-
ty, hold the following language.
In the first rank we place couch grass
(1ritieum Rcpens,) a grass that is beginning
to be appreciated upon the Merrimack, but
wehich has usually been condemned rs n
curse upon q farm" :" Ii is n
stocky. hearty, clean, sweet grass, and If
properly cut and cured, will command q
higher price in the market where it is known
than herds grass. In addition TO this, il
has other peculiar properties: 1t vii propo-
gate from the root as well as from the seed,
will accommodate itself to poor as well as
well rich land, dry as well as moist land,
growing most luxuriantly upon medOws and
in in valleys, and still not refusing fair
growth upon plain, a gravel bank or a sand
knoll. Such grass is inyaluaGlc,-but it
has its drawbacks. Once in the soil it
is there for life time. Ii cares little for
plow or hoe cutting it only multiphes it
for this reason, it is considered a curse in
a field of tillagc. 1t is \ grass that will not
be kept under by tillagc-ior this reason it
is invaluable.
1t will grow upon light soils and produce
well. But the true secret is, to sow it on
our lands, and cultivate it by top dressing,
Once sown apply top dressing, and the soil
need not be touched with plow or hoe for n
quarter Of u century. If the crop fails in
in spots, upon knOlls or other places, apply
u heavy harrow, an extra sprinkling of ma.
nurc, liberal quantity Of couch seed, har-
row again, and roll, and the work is DONE
A field kept in couch grass in this way, will
produce greater profit in hay thnn il kept
in the usual method"
"Fity years since, upon the
interyales of the Merrimac, this grass was
considered us curse by the farmers gcner-
ally, but within the lost twenty-five years,
it has come to bc considered Of equal, If not
greater value for hay than herds grass.
The more its qualities are considered, and
its adaptation to soils and appropriate culti-
yation are studied, tho more reliable il will
become"