Vermont farmer. [volume] (Newport, Orleans County, Vt.) 1870-1877, 1872-11-15

Such is only tho culture and propagation
which the plant invites. Every inch Of this
root-stalk is capable Of producing new
plant. Our only hope is in smothering it
till It rots
Live-Forever.
The plant live.forever, (sedum teleptuum)
has in many cases escaped from the garden
aud become great evil in pastures and
meadows. Its woll-known tenacity of life
renders it extremely difficult to eradicate.
When it exists only in small clumps scatter
ed over the field. undoubtedly the best course
is to dig it out clean and burn it iu alternate
layers with brush and old wood. When it
has obtained entire possession of the soil,
nothing but trench-plowing, --burying it
deep,-will redeem the land. 1t will thrive
on bare rock, and have seen it fourishing
9nely in a swamp, where a neighbOr bad de-
posted it.
Ox-Eyo Daisy.
Go to Darlington and he will tell you
that this is "vile intruder" and great
nuisance" and if your farms are clear of it
you will do well to share his opinion. Over
the fields Of the Champlain valley it spreads,
in June, its white banners, and at risk of be-
ing told that l belong to a community of
"slovenly farmers" l confess myself at a loss
to know whether to call it a weed or a valu-
able forage plant. Under the frequent
droughts of the past dozen years it has in
creased rapidly over our valley; and to op-
pose any check to its progress is beyond the
power Of man. 1t has supplanted timothy
! to considerable extent. Some farmers
have thought that it "run out" that grass
but it cannot be doubted that the failure of
timothy is due more to severe droughts and
frosts, and to the partially exhausted condi-
tion of our old lands, The daisy more prop
erly succeeds timothy when the latter has
failed. Deep tillage and liberal manuring
of those lands will enable timothy to flourish
and hold its own against the daisy for many
years. A limited experiment with phos-
phate suggests to me very torcibly that these
lands are deficient in that mineral, and that
timothy requires its presence in considerable
amount We know that much of our clear.
ed upland was injured by too continuou,
cropping with wheat. That crop must have
taken large amount Of phosphoric acid
from the soil. AS n weed in cultivated
land the daisy gives us very little trouble. Ii
pastures, cattle do not seem to relish it; but
in the meadows, if cut when in blossom and
properly cured, it makes sweet and nutri
tious hay, which cows and most horses eat
with avidity. Enduring the drought better
than the grasses, and thriving even on dry
clay, it has really proved a reliance in sea
sons when our hay crop has been the lightcst
Couch Grass,
1'ritieum repcnS, is by far the most troub
lesome aud obstinate pest which encounter
in farming. Its various English names
couch, quack, quitch, quick, bunch, joint
snake, witch, and devil grass, attest how
widespread it is becoming, and also in wha
bad esteem it is held among farmers. Re
specting this grass | wish to raise among
Vermont farmers loud note of alarm for
while it is fast gaining ground amongst us,
iud scarce half the farmers Of my acquaint
ance know the plant or are apprized hov
much danger turks under its fine stalk. Bot
anically it is next Of kin to wheat, being
species Of the same genus with that. Intro
duced from Europe in an early day, it ha
, planted itself in all the older settled por
tions Of the northern states. 1t is an aristo
cratic plant, and loves high living and goo,
, society, SO it chooses out the very choices
, lands of our old homesteads, the gardens an,
! the vicinity of the barns, and thus it move
into town. and alone of all the grasses
crowds upon the curbstones OF the street
1t is perennial-may | not say eternal? 70
l once in field it never lets 60 its hold o
the soil. 1t is the creeping root-stalks @
couch grass which give the farmer trouble
{ Tough aud wiry, they weave themseve
: through the soil in thick mat which great
7 impedes cultivation. When, at a cost G
' much team power, the tough sod is turned
I the bristlng spears of the grass push fror
5 the back Of the furrow and grow with tn
same vigor as before. If grain be sown o
7 such land but poor result is likely to b
. realized, aud any attempt at raising hoe
crops will require much severe toll. II
| who sets out to subdue a piece of quac
: must resolve upon no halfway measure
y 1t is of this pest that Mr.. Warner, in IN
I summer in garden" says that extermiu'
' tioD rather helps it; aud surely it thriv,
Q under the cultivation which cleans land
A ordinary weeds. Under ordinary care
. mellow tilth is prepared for it, and its bro
. en- root-stalks, every piece Of which will pr
: duce a new plant, are caught in the harrC
] or plow and strewed evenly over the del
: Thorough treatment includes summer falloN
r ing land the summer needs be dry one) wi
$ repeated plOwings, harrowings, and cutiva
i ings raking off each time the roots that a
!. brought to the surface These must be dri'
c and burned This course well followed o
n will in good season clear the land, thoul
It roots enough for another start will alwa
p remain, Trench plowiug, which buries 4
y surface soil containing the roots deep b
meath furrow of subsoil have found to
an efficient means of subiuing the pest.
g There are many farms in Vermont whe
!. couch grass is only partially established,
i perhaps exists in obscurity. 1t may be on
}. a strip Of good looking grass along the 81
L 4 Al "a