Martinsburg herald. [volume] (Martinsburg, W. Va.) 1881-1920, 1884-11-29
AGRICULTURAL.
A SHEEP DESTROYER

Growing on our Western plains i
a pretty-looking kind of grass. 70
semblIng oats, and which is called
popularity, weather grass or needla
grass-botanically, Stipa Sparteo
What may be its special sphere Of
usefulness to man or in the economy
of nature, granting that it has sucb
a sphere, is hardly worth consider
ing in the light of its evil works.
| Looked at casually, while in its
growing state, it might be mistaken
for immature or bastard oats
although moments inspection
would reveal its true character
The seed, particularly, would serve
to emphasize its unlikeness to its
useful cousin, and it is this seed
which, as seemingly insignificant
but really potent agent of destruc.
ton, claims our attention.
The seed in general conformation.
but not otherwise, is like the oat
Its base is tipped with a tiny poin.
as sharp and hard as that of pin.
Almost hiding this tip, end ex.
tending upward to nearly half the
length of the seed, is soft, silky.
hair-like growth. The remainder of
the seed, which has a total length Of
about three-quarters of an inch, is
bare, smooth, and fiinty. A minute
depression, made by the unfolding of
the edges of the case, runs the en-.
tire length of the seed.
From the upper end Of the seed
runs long avn or beard, varying in
length from four to seven inches.
This avn is a simple but beautiful
piece of mechanism, designed appar-
emily for the sole purpose of enabling
the seed to SOW itself. 1t il tightly
twisted, screw-like for two. thirds of
its length, and then turns abruptly
into right angle, the remaining one.
third being UNFINISHED. They who
are acquainted with the so.called
animated oats or the wild oats will
be familiar with the action of the
twisted avn under the iutluenee of
wet OF dry weather. The avn IN.
loosens or tightens its twist accord
ing as it comes under the influence
of wet or dry conditions, and the un.
twisted, right-angled end remaining
quiescent enables the seed to writhe
and turn and burrow deeper and
deeper into the earth.
This application of its mechanical
powers to the proper end of saving
it's life is both beautiful and pleasing,
but, unfortunately, these powers,
being mechanical, act with equal
vigor to an improper end. Caught
in the seemingly impenetrable wool
of the sheep, and there subjected to
the influence OF alternate moisture
and dryness, the awns do their work,
aud, incredible as it may seem,
propel the seed so tar as to cause
the needle to penetrate the hide of
the animal. The awns break off,
and the needles penetrate the vital
parts of the sheep, causing painful
death. The harmless looking silky
growth on the needle, tending back.
ward from the point as it does, acts
as a barb to prevent any retrograde
movement OF the intruding needle.
The points, too, not only enter the
body of the sheep in this way, but
also stick in the nostrils, nose, and
lips, where, however, they do less
harm than when eaten and swallow
ed into the stomach, in which event
death must follow.
The tendency to underrate the
work Of weak agents may lead to
the thought that no material damage
can be done by means Of the Shpa
Spdrtea to sheep. How erroneous
such conclusion would be will be
seen from a statement of Mr.. Henry
Stewart, who, in his work, "The
Shepherds Manual" says, referring
to sheep in the Northwestern district
that :" the most frequent losses are
caused by native grass, Which
bears exceedingly sharp awns or
boards, and called popularity needle
grass.'n
Sheep men guard against loss
from this cause By frequent ezalni
nation of the sheep during the per
iod when Stipa Spartea is ripe, and
by burning the pasture in june az
which time the deadly grass has
just commenced its growth. Pre-
vention in this instance, as in Others
is better than cure, for it is no easy
matter to examine every sheep Of
large herd SO carefully that all tne
needles can be detected and With
drawn.
ODD RHYMES ABOUT A COW.