The Sauk Centre herald. (Sauk Centre, Stearns County, Minn.) 1886-current, 1916-07-20
In passing through the country

In passing through the country
around Sank Centre, one sees quite a
OF of quack grass; some places In
watches and in other places it occupies |.
,art or all of field. Last year and
his year seem to have been very fav-
,rable to the spread of this weed on
of the unusual amount OF
rainfall.
Three years ago in Dakota county,
saw farm that was actually aband-
oned on account of the stand OF quack
grass. This weed pest is especially
in the southern and south
western parts of the state and It
seems to be on the increase every
where. Once it gains foothold in
community it gets the Visiting habit"
going from one farm to another.
Even though the weed is unwelcome,
it is as nutritious as June
grass and all classes of stock relish it
either as pasture or hay. 1t has been
used some places to bind the soil
wherever it is subject to washing.
A man by the name of Crane pur-
chased an infected farm near Long
Lake, Mimi, some years ago and
made quite study of the eradication
of quack grass. He tried several
methods and finally came to the con-
clusion that deep blowing with sur
face cultivation was the best method.
The essential thing in this method is
proper blowing. A breaking pillow or
enc with a sloping mold board was the
kind that gave the most satisfaction.
The purpose is to turn the furrow AS
flat as possible, thus completely COW
ering the green part of the plant. In
order to do this right a jointer should
be attached to the pillow.
Where quack grass has been allow
ed to form quite a sod the roots will
go about six inches deep. 1t should
be plowed deep enough so as to allow
about three inches of soil above the
Flowed roots. In Sweden, where
quack grass is troublesome, they pas
ture the field two or three years be-
fore blowing. Such pasturing brings
the roots close to the surface. Thus
they can be plowed under more easily.
The top three inches of soil is now
kept cultivated and no spears are al
lowed to grow, thus causing the roots
to die. In discing do not set the discs
at an angle, but run them straight, rs
we do not want to bring the roots to
the surface, the idea being to smoth-
er them.
In blowing, if you back furrow, it
is important to turn the first furrow
back again so as to be sure to cut all
Of the sod. Another way to get it all
turned over is to plow around tue
field. Just before the seed is mature
is good time to pillow as at this
time the roots are weakest because OF
the fact that most of the energy IL
them has been transferred to The ster
Of the plant to form seed.
There are a few good ways of geS
ting rid of small patches of quacS.
have seen small patches near The
buildings fenced in and the hogs turn
ed. Unless fed too literally thu
hogs will root the quack out in shor
time depending on the size of the fie!(
and the number of hogs.
A very good method is the tar 2ape
method. The quack patch is coverei
with tar paper, the paper extendin:
beyond the edge of the quack A or
inches and the seams overlapping sew
eral inches. Dirt is put on along tn;
seam to keep the grass from comm,
through. The method will cost aboa
75c to $1.O0 per square rod.
Digging by hand is hard but sur
way if care is taken to get al TIL
roots. The chemical, sodium arseni5e
is also effective: pounds in 20 gal
Ions of water will treat square rod
thus making its use practical only Oh
small patches. It makes the soil ster
lie for awhile and is deadly poison
therefore stock must be kept ava,
from treated plots.
Some nave mad success IN k1lilrl
larger pieces by blowing as recon-
nended above and then discing onc'
per week for or 8 weeks. The fol
lowing spring the land is again work
ed early and up to about the middle O.
May when it is planted to fodder O
silage corn.
Another way is to follow a two-yea
rotation of rye and fodder corn. TIL
land is plowed soon after the rye j
removed and worked that fall and VI
to corn planting time the next spring
Rye is seeded Immediately after tax
ing off the fodder corn.
Quack grass seeds pass through tn