Belt Valley times. [volume] (Armington, Mont.) 1894-1977, 1923-05-03
QUACKCRASS CAN
Be CONTROLLED
noxious Plant Can Rarely Be Ex-
terminated on Large Areas,
Says Recent Bulletin.
pLOW UNDER IN HOT WEATHER
Need Works Its Way Into Fslda Be-
coming Thoroughly Established
Before RsoounIxsd-lt Re
ssmbles Wheat.

Prepared by the United States Department
of Agrfculturs.)
Quackgrass a rarely be extermi'
aated on large areas, but 1t can be
brought under reasonable control, says
he United States Department Of Agri-
culture The best plan. according 10
Farmers Bulletin 1907, 'Quackgrass,"
by L. w. Kephart OF the bureau of
plant industry. which has just been
published, is TO allow II to form a
sod and then piow Ii In midsummer
turing dry. hot weather. After plow-
ng, the field should be narrowed fire.
suently until winter and the following
rear planted with a cultivated crop.
Quackgrass occurs In this country
most abundantly In the region north
Of the Ohio and east of the Missouri
rivers, but during recent years the
weed has been found invading the val
ey lands and irrigated soils in the
pacific Northwest where II promises
to be as troublesome as In the East.
One OF the principal reasons for the
vide and continued distribution Of
quackgrass is the fact that II does
not look like a weed. There are no
bright, SNOWY flowers coarse, ugly
leaves; or other features by which
weeds are distinguished To the
casual observer the plant is simply a
grass. and thus 1t works its way into
he fields, becoming thoroughly estab-
lished before 1t is recognized. 1t is
most important, therefore, that the
farmer should be able to recognize
guackgrass at sight.
Closely Related to Wheat
In general appearance quackgrass
resembles a thin-headed variety Of
wheat. The plant is, In fact. closely
related to wheat, and as there are not
many wild grasses which resemble
that cereal, the occurrence Of a wheat
like grass In the field should be re
garded with suspicion. The grasses
which might be confused most com
with quackgrass on this ac-
count are western wheat-grass, slender
wheat-grsss, and wild rye, In the west
srn states. and Italian rye-grass and
perennial rye-grass in the eastern
None of these grasses Is hard
10 destroy. Positive identification Of
quackgrass can be secured by examin-
ing the seed heads, the leaves, and the
The bulletin on the sub
|ect contains Photographic plates and
description Of the weed at It's
different stages Of growth that make
Identification easy.
While there is no quick and easy
of controlling quackgrass, and
iifferent methods have to be employed
lnder varying conditions. experience
las shown that certain fundamental
phases Of control are constant and de-
,endable, and may be accepted as
principles upon which the practice of
is based.
Quackgrass control depends more
han anything else on the character. OF
he season and fair weather is abso-
utely essential IL any progress is TO
made. Cultivation In wei weather
merely encourages the weed to spread.
Vet weather. Of course. cannot be fore
old, and 1t often happens that rainy
sets In after a campaign OF
radication is well under way. Under
UGH circumstances the only thing 10
o is to accept the situation philosoph-
abandon the work temporarily,
nd await a more favorable season
When IL is possible TO pillow a
uack-infested field so that the roots
be covered TO a great depth, as is
ometIhes p%racticed. using two plows,
ne following the other In the same
Irrow, this method has been found
cry satisfactory. The work requires
xillful plowmen, however, and special
pes Of plows, and the soil must be
eep and easily turned.
Work Must Be Thorough.
To be effective against uuackgrass,
lltivation and narrowing must be
frequent and persistent.
cultivation Is worse than
,ne. Certain systems of cropping are
lggested In the bulletin as a means
holding quackgrass In check on
areas The use Of smother crops
at make a heavy. dense growth. and
the weeds by drowning and shad-
&, Is also suggested under certain
ndItions. Miscellaneous methods OF
ntrol for small areas are discussed.
D small patches tar paper covering
n be used effectively to smother the
Iackgrass. but this method Is too la
for large areas
Those interested In the method OF I
Iackgrass control may have the bull I
lin free of charge by writing to the 4
,ited States Department OF Agricul
- gy-~Af- 4,