Eagle River review. [volume] (Eagle River, Wis.) 1890-1927, 1923-03-01
QuaCk Grass Calls for
Prompt Eradication
PROFESSOR DELWICHE TELLS OF
RESULTS OF EXPERIMENTS
MADE WITH THIS PEST

Few farmers in the northern section
/ of the country are wholly free from
the troublesome and noxious weed,
which we know as quack grass 1t is
propagated through the seed, of which
it produces abundantly, and also by
means of underground stems or stol-
ons. Originally an introduction from
the old world it, too, in common with
the white man, whom it accompanied,
is now pretty generally scattered
throughout the north part of the
United States and the Dominion of
Canada Hay for feed and seed oats
are common means OF seed dissemina-
tion.> Generally speaking, it is unsafe
to use manure made from hay bought
on the open market unless the manure
be applied to a cultivated crop and
good thorough cultivation is practiced.
If manure containing quack seeds is
applied to clover the same year, the
quack is sure to take hold and be
very firmly established before the
ground again goes to a cultivated crop
in the course of the rotation.
In fighting quack grass or any
weed which possesses underground
storage roots, the object should be
to prevent the formation of starch
in the green leaves. of the plant Any
system that will effectually prevent
the quack or other weed from grow
ing green for two or three months
during the growing season is suitable
for its destruction providing it is
sufficiently economical in it's applica-
ton. In the case of small compact
patchess it is often possible to cover
4p with tar or building paper so as to
exclude sunlight, one of the essential
requisites. to starch formation or plant
growth Care should be had to lap
the paper well and put posts, rails Or
stones on the joints to keep them i'll
place. The method of covering is limit
ed to small patches only, owing to
cost
Another method for small areas is
to dig up the quack grass with spad-
ing fork, cart away and put on brush
pile to be burned as soon as sufficient
ly dry This method like thar previous
ly described, is not practical for any
thing except small patches
The summer fallow method is eff
fective on large areas providing it is
followed thoroughly and persistently
A good way is to pillow the infested
field in early spring as deeply as pos
.sible, disk up we'll, then go over at
once with the spring tooth harrow
or cultivator, no fewer than two or
more times About week later or
as soon as the least sign of green
shows, the ground should be gone over
again. once in each direction. This
cultivation should be repeated for five
or six times during the season or as
often as necessary to prevent the
grass from growing green. If the work
is begun, say about May 10 and con-
sistently followed up until the last of
June, providing the weather has been
favorable for growth, but 1ot too wet
to interfere with cultivation when
needed the quack should be pretty
we'll whipped by that time. A crop Of
potatoes may then be planted in check
rows and the most thorough after clll-
tiyation possible given to the land.
In case weather conditions have pre-
vented ideal cultivation, it may be nee
essary to continue cultivation for
another two or three weeks when buck
wheat, millet or any other quick grow
ing crop may be sown. Plenty of seed
s3ouId be used.
t often happens that quack grass
seeds, if buried deeply, viii stay in
the ground fer quite a while without
terminating. When brought up near
the surface in blowing, these seeds
cI0 LIKELY " 0pIOuL c1lO SIOW, ICiuLGSI
ing the field even though the grown
plants have been thoroughly destroy
ed. For this reason it is we'll to put in
cultivated crop the season following
that in which the summer following
Quack grass plants, either young or
old
We have used the method above
outlined with good success on both
light and heavy soil.
Another method which we have fol
lowed with success is to pillow in the
fall, sow to an early variety of oats
in early spring and cut. the oats and
quack grass mixture for hay just as
soon as the latter begin to head. Re
move the hay just as soon as possible
after cutting pillow deeply at once
roll, disk up and cultivate as above
outlined until freezing weather. The