The weekly Union times. [volume] (Union C.H., South Carolina) 1871-1894, 1883-06-01

ABoUr NUT GRAss.--This is the worst
enemy in the shape of"s troublesome yeed"
that the farmer has teponsendswitI AM
nual weeds or grasses can be cradieaacd by
cutting them down bsl1e towering, saa
thus destroy the supply Sf seed. But thi,
is perennial, meyer dying out, recruiting
and multiplying ard extending in all dircc-
tions year by ear. The tuber of one sea-
son is the parent Of dozen or more for the
next, and so they go on increasing .ad m
fnitum. Hogs are fond of the nuts (when
they can find nothing better) and will find
occupation for several months in a nut grass
field roofing and turning up the surface, mol
lowing the ground and leaving nuts enough
always to make fine crop next spring
We have seen fields that had been thrown
ont of cultiyatiou on account -nf--ie "''
aud allowed to grow upthickiysin pines, SO
as to completely shade the ground, and af-
ter ten OF fifteen years cleared and brought
into cultivation. At first the tubers came
up sparingly and feeble, but The warm sun
and mellow ground soon give them heart,
and at the close of tho season the ground is
pretty well infested again
Various plans have been suggested aud
tried for destroying nut grass:
1st The application of salt heavy enough
to penetrate the soil many inches. This
will kill all the roots in reach, but it kills
the land also for time, until rains wash out
the supcrfluous salt For small patches
and when salt can be cheaply had, this
plan may be cffcctual.
I'd. PlouShiGg deeply in winter so as to
expose the tubcrs to frosts If done repeat
edly many arc killed, but there arc always
enough left for seed.
Sd. Hoeing over the surface six days in
the week through whole season has been
tried, but though cut down constantly the
tubcrs are not exhausted at the end Of the
season and will rccuperate for next year.
4th. Spading up the ground and picking
out carefully the nuts; may be done on a
small patch, but it would cost too much on
a field.
9Th. The most effectual plan for destroy
ing Cor at any rate greatly weakcning) 1t in
| a field is by a rotation of oats and COW. peas
continued for several years. The oats should
be sown carly. so that by spring the ground
is well covered and shaded. The grass is
then kept down in feeble condition. AS
| a-,->.> .hn -nnia- arn harrnstad nlnn u nm aI
once and plant cow.peas. These grow Oft
rapidly and shade the ground before the
grass has had time to recruit. Ifthis rota
tion is repeated for several years it comes
nearer to destroying nut grass in the fields
than any other process.
The leaves shoot up in early spring from,
the tubers Of the previous year, some attain
ing full height There is then an apparent
cessation of while, until the Towering
stem starts. But the rest and inaction
above ground is made up by activity be-
meath. Small thread like fbres push from
the roots in all directions, and at the ends
of these the tubcrs are formed, AID mature
in the course of the season. These thread
like roots run down to foot or more il
soft mellow earth. When the tubers ma
ture they die out, SO that is impossible tc
draw the tubcrs out By the rootlets.
Along our scaboard region, on the ole
settled plantations, the grass is a tcrribl,
sccnrgc. When is has taken possession o
a field it becomes impossible to eradicate i
at anything like reasonable cost. 1t twoult
cost more than the land is worth 1t i.
scattered and propagatcd in many ways BY
the tubcrs. 50 thu. those who wish tp keep
their fields clean must be very vigilint.-
The tubcrs are favori;o food IF the wood
rats who collect and carry them off for thcil
winter stores. We have seen a quart OF
more Of the nuts dug up near an old stump
Cattle and hogs also carry the nuts by their
h0ols from one field to another.
Poushing the land invariably spreads il
over the field, as the nuts are carried by
their long ibrcs and dropped by the plough
Such a terror is it. that those who have
none of it on their lands will never use po'
tato seed, strawberry plants, cabbage plants
shrubs or flowers that have grown on nut
grass land, for fear Of their carrying ,hc nuts
iu their roots The experience of planters
in the low country is that whist seriously
impairing Oh" value of lands for cotton, il
vs. less Injurious to corn, except that il