Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1881-07-01
Agricultural.


witch Grass CrrIcticum Repens0
This grass is classed by botanists as a spe-
cies of the same genus as wheat, and in some
localities it is called wheat grass. In books il
is usually called quack, or couch grass. II is
hardly known here under any other name
than witch grass-a name that might have
been naturally suggested when a belief in
witohcraft prevailed from the springing up
of a dozen new plants in the place Of the old
one cut up by the hoe. Within few years
this grass has been Speeding into many new
places 1t is found most in the river towns,
on intervale lands, but il seems at home on
all soils, and il once started, either by acct
dent or design, it grows and spreads rapidly
in almost any situation. Probably there are
few, If any, towns or districts in this part Of
the state where it is now, entirely unknown
though it is believed there we're towns fif-
teen years ago in which no witch grass could
be found. 1t propsgates itself both by the
seed and by the jointed root and creeping
root-stalk each joint of the root or stalk, II
the plant is broken and buried by the hoe or
cultivator, can produce new plant and the
new plant as many others from the joints of
its trailing roots as will suffice TO cover the
ground or as the soil will support. For te-
nacity of life, the equal of witch grass is
hard TO find. Among the grasses, in its
strong hold of life, it corresponds to the eel
among fishes. Sufficient use of the hoe to
exterminate ordinary weeds only seems to
multiply the number of roots and prepare the
soil for an increased growth of this trouble
some grass. Nothing but the most heroic
treatment will prevent its taking possession
of o field where it has once obtained foot
hold. Where there is much of it il is almost
a hopeless task to exterminate it with hoe
and cultivator Gathering and burning the
dried grass and roots has been recommended
as an efectual remedy against it but this
would require too much labor for large
field with the soil filed with roots Deep
ploughing followed by some quick, strong
growing crop, shading the ground like buck
wheat, would probably tend to subdue it.
Burning the aftermath from the surface of
the ground in the spring has been found TO
have little effect in destroying it. But, if
hard to destroy, it is not of itself worthless
grass when growing in its proper place. It
is pronounced by good authorities very nu.
tritious plant If cut before the stem be-
comes too hard and woody it makes valuA-
BILE hay. A distinguished agricultural writer
says: 1--WE could never really satisfy our
selves that its presence in meadows and pas
lures was such an unmitgated curse. On
lands where alternate husbandry is practced,
it must be admitted to be an evil of great
magnitude. Its hardness is such, and its ra-
pidity of growth is SO great, that it springs
up much more rapidly than any other crop
that can be planted and chokes it. Still it
has many virtues. 1t is perfectly cosmopol-
itan in its habits. 1t is found in all sorts of
soils and climates. Its creeping roots are
suoculent, sweet and very nutritive, and are
greedily devoured by horses and cows" A
correspondent of the Department of Agricul-
ture, sending specimens of Western variety
of this species of grass, says 1--WE think
this is the best grass grown, superior to tim
othy or clover. We call it blue stem or blue
joint no richer hay can be made from any
thing known" 1t would be valuable grass
to cultivate, or rather to let alone as it grows
without cultivation, if it were not for its hab-
it of persistently intruding itself where it is
not wanted, and continuing to grow with the
sward either side up. On such soils as are
not natural to the grasses commonly cult
waited, but in which witch grass thrives, it is
question if it would not be best to allow it
to grow permanently, keeping up the product
by the application of fertilizers to the sur
face. The necessity of frequent ploughing
and re-seeding. with the risk of loss of labor
and seed, in consequence of drouth or other
causes, would thus be avoided. Though
witch grass is justly condemned as the worst
of weeds, if it is possible to use it for grass
or hay and and at the same time keep it out
of the fields we would use for tillage, its
growth might be proftably encouraged. We
have recently seen newspaper statement
that wealthy farmer in New York attributes
his success to the growth of witch grass on
his farm. A heavy crop of this grass has
been cut this season on j. H. Merriheld's
place at Williamsville. 1t followed grain,
without seeding, and completely covered the
ground with thick growth two feet or more
in height, yielding, we should Judge, on a
large part of the piece, at the rate of two
tons to the acre.