Grant County herald. [volume] (Lancaster, Wis.) 1850-1968, 1889-09-12
nox,ous WEEDS OF WISCONSIN.
From Bslletln No. 20, Agricultural Experiment
Station, Madison.
The Sow THISTLE.


flowers, which are produced in large
heads at the top of the stem, are bright
yellow. This plant is perennial. and,
like the Canada thistle, propogates by
creeping rootstoeks.
The SOW thistle does not appear to be
largely introduced in Wisconsin as yet,
but it has appeared in several localities
and is becoming more common. 1t is
said TO be rather aggressive weed, and
somewhat difficult to extirpate when it
has secured foot hold.
Hon best destroyed. 1t is not probable
that the sow thistle can long endure
thorough cultivation. In extreme cases,
however, it may be necessary to resort
to the summer fallow or some of the
other means recommended for the Can
ada thistle.
SOUR Dock, YELLOW Dock. CURLED
Dock.
(Runler crispuS, L.)
Description. This is rank, coarse,
deep-rooting, perennial weed. The
rather slender, somewhat grooved,
branching stem grows to the height of
three or four feet, and in common with
the branches terminates in long, some
What plume-like, compound raceme of
greenish flowers which are followed by
numerous angular brown seeds, shaped
somewhat like kernel of buckwheat.
The rather long and narrow, sharp.
pointed leaves have distinct vein mark
ings, and are strongly wavy-curled on
the borders, They are borne on rather
long leaf stocks, and where each OF
these clasps the stem branch starts
out. The plant has long, spindle
shaped, yellow tap-root.
Another species resembling this has
blunt-Pointed and less curled leaves, and
still another has thickish, paler green
leaves which are scarcely curled at all
on the borders. All these species are
useless weeds and should be DESTROYED.
Like the burdock, the yellow dock is
emphatically an occupant of waste
grounds, being rarely troublesome in
cultivated fields, Its root has some
reputed medical virtues, and the young
shoots are said to make excellent greens.
Hon. best destroyed. Perhaps the
most effectual method of destroying the
yellow dock is to pull it out by the roots
at times when the soil is very wet. By
clasping the stem just at the surface of
OF the ground and giving slight twist
and vigorous pull at the same time,
the root will usually come out almost
entire. AS the plants are not often very
numerous, this method of destruction
will seldom prove expensive. The more
common method of cutting Oft the
stems with the scythe or hoe does not
destroy the root, and even the cultiva-
tor and pillow are seldom effectual I'M
less supplemented by the hand.
CoUcH, QU ITCH, QUICK, QUACK,
WHEAT, DOC, OR TOMMY GRASS.
(AqropyrHm TepenS or Triticum rep
ems, ID
Not because it is new in Wisconsin,
but because its destruction demands
eternal vigilance, we begin our second
division with this we'll known intruder.
Couch grass has some excellent quail
ties as a fodder plant. and is said to sur
pass timothy in nutrative value, but its
disposition to monopolize and retain
possession of the soil renders it a most
malignant enemy to rotative cropping
The popularity that renders couch
grass so difficult to destroy is its method
OF propagation. 1t puts out vigorous
underground stems, which root and
send up new stems at their joints. These
underground stems often display their
aggressive power by growing through
potatoes or bits of wood that chance TO
lie in their path. By Interviewing, they
form stiff sod that often severely tries
the muscles of the plowman's team.
Usually branches do not come from
every joint, but if the stems are broken
or cut in pieces, as with plOw, hoe or
harrow, each piece sends up stem and
leaves from any joint it may have, and
becomes q distinct plant. A large
amount of nourishment is stored up in
the form of starch, which makes the
underground stems very nutratlye and
furnishes food for growth. fhe new
plants, formed by cutting up the old
ones, grow with vigor, and the result is
many weeds in place of one. When the
subterranean portions are accessible to
stock, they eat them readily. Horses
and cows are fond of them, and may
get much nourishment from their rich
stores. Hogs root industriously for
them and give efficient help in their ex-
termination.
Hour best destroyed. The summer
fallow Is probably the most satisfactory
method Of destroying couch grass on
any large scale. Turn the sod under
in June, and pillow again whenever any
amount of grass appears above the
ground, until September, when winter
wheat may be sOwn if desired. 1t is
best to remove fences and all other OBJ
structions to the pillow that makes har-
boring place for the tenacious under
ground stems.
Small isolated patches may be SUBJ
dued by devoting the ground to some
crop that requires clean culture, as
cabbage. cauhflower or celery, provided
the required clean culture is faithfully
given
PIGwEED, LAMBS QUARTERS.
(Chenopodium album, L.)
This weed is not specially difficult to
subdue, but rs it is remarkably prolific
and of very rapid growth it often dam
ages crops. Ii is most abundant in
gardens, and other rich cultivated
grounds, where il will nearly monopo-
lie the soil if permitted to do so. 1t is
sometimes used for greens. Under
favorable conditions the plant, which is