Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1909-11-04
Graduating Q,1ack Grass
Minnesota
Front the Agricultural Collegel s

1.-THE Minnesota Plan Evolved by tn
Bulletin From the MINI
Quack grass has secured a firm hold
on many Minnesota farms during the
past three or four exceptionally wet
seasons. In many parts of western
and southern Minnesota it may be
seen In scattered punches in hay and
grain fields and in some parts it has
secured full possession of the land.
AS the seed natures comparatively
early and remains in the head for
some time, it becomes especially dan
gerous in timothy hay meadows and
in the grain fields for the reason that,
when the hay is fed to live stock and
the straw is used for bedding, the seed
goes back into the land with the ma
nure, rapidly infesting new spots. The
new seed and the underground stems
already in the land make q rapid pro-
cess of thoroughly establishing this
troublesome pest.
1t is suggested that clover crops and
such others as may be matured before
the quack grass seed ripens are the
proper crops to grow so far as possible
on land infested with quack grass.
Where grain or hay fields are spotted
with quack grass, it pays to NOW
these spots and burn the crop rather
than to thresh the quack grass seeds
into the grain and straw. Vigorous
measures must be used at once to
check this pest or it will secure pos
session of much farm land in Mime
sofa. Seeding the land 30 timothy and
clover and keeping it in hay and
closely cropped pasture for a few
years will weaken the underground
stems and draw them to the surface
where they can be buried deeply when
the land is plcwed and the roots We're
easily killed. Where quack grass once
secures possession of a field. it will
take persistent and systematic effort
to eradicate it. Several ways that
have been found effective are suggest
ed in this bulletin.
When the grain exists in small spots
in different parts of the field or when
only a small part of the field is in
tested, set this part of field aside and
work it separately. The object in do
ing this is to prevent the underground
stems from being dragged from the in
tested part of the field to parts having
no quack grass on it.
Then use one of the following meth
DDS:
smotherine with tar papeTz-1sfio'ss-
the quaek grass and remove it. Then
cover the spots completely with tar
paper, tapping the paper several inches
and binding the edges and seams with
a few shovels of dirt In from sixty to
] Ave ~, },a
dead and the paper may be removed
and placed on another spot in the same
way.
Hand digging.-Any time during the
growing season when the weather is
suitable, dig up the grass and shake
gu. the underground stems and roots
carefully. A five or six tined short
handled fork Is the best tool for this
purpose. The underground stems and
the roots If thoroughly killed may be
plowed under to increase the store OF
vegetable matter in the soil. If there is
any danger thtat they will grow again,
they should be removed from the field
and burned. The object should be to
get all of the underground stems and
roots. The spots should be looked over
stray plants that may have escaped the
notice Of the digger. 1t Is not neces-
sary in either of the two methods out
+ lined above to let the land lie entirely
idle. Corn or potatoes may be planted
on the land except on the spots infest-
4 ed by quack and taken care of entirely
with the hoe.
Clean culturePant to hoed crops
/ and keep grass from appearing above
\ ground. This method varies from the
/ one above only in that the grass is not
dug but simply kept from appearing
well distributed over them on accoun,
of the cost of the tar paper or the
amount of hand labor involved in dig
ging and hoeing.
When the whole field is pretty vel
infested with quack.-If it is enclosed
the fence should be removed so that the
work may be thorough and no grass
may remain behind to reinfest the field
lined below
Bare failow.-In following out a sys.
tenn Of bare falloey, the time to beg.r
depends largely on the convenience o.
the farmer. 1t is thought that this
quack grass can be killed most effect
lively If the blowing Is done when the
grass is in blossom, which is from
June Is to July 10. Starting a
this time has the additional advantag.
ever starting in spring that the wealth
CT is more favorable TO killing I'll.
quack grass. August as rule has suf
ficient dry weather to kill out the IN
foreground parts when exposed an.
the bacteria and molds are also a
work very actively and bring about
rapid decay of the parts beneath tn
surface. However, If beginning tn
fallow in spring fits in better with tn
routine work of the farm the gras
may be plowed under in April or Ma,
with excellent results. The groun
should be plowed seven or eigh
inches deep, using chain to draw TN
der all above parts. Immediatel
after blowing double disc the groun
lengthwise of the burrows setting tn
disc shallow and taking care that non
Of the sods are inverted In doubl
discing the disc is Tapped one-halt
Within the week the ground should b
T.