OUR WEED GRASSES.

Otago Witness, Issue 2201, 7 May 1896, Page 6

OUR WEED GRASSES.

By Geohge Bbownlee.

" All plauts gvowing out of their place may be considered weed", and arc more or less injurious." (Rearranged for the Otago Witness.) No. XXVIII.— The Awnkd Wheat Gbass (Triticum multiflorum). Th's grass atlr^ cts notice by itfl • peculiar greenish- blue colour and its inclination to grow in tufts, with strong stems and short spikelots. It is rarely met with in cultivated laud, but frequently on the rolling downs that have never been sown down. Cattle eat ib freely, and sheep are fond of the yourig and tender leaves. It ia found all over New Zealand, and at one timo was frequently met with near the sea. It grows from lft to 2ft high, and continues flowering from January to March. Ib is a sparse seeder, and d fficult to separate from ryegrass seed. When fully ripe the short awns drop from the grain it them becomes difficult to detect its pretence among more valuable grass seeds. No. XXIX.— The Blub Wheat Gbass (Triticum Ecabra). This grass grows in large blue tufts about 2ft high, flowering from, December to February. It was formerly scattered all over New Zealand from sea level to an altitude of 3000 ft. It waa much prized by the early settlers, who saved portions of the seed by hand, scattering it her* and there over the Irons, and gave it the name* of ."Blue Tussac Grass." It is now rarely seen near the coast, bat its seed is frequently met with in parcels of ryegraes from the in* terior. It has been said that tho Triticums are th« grasses which dogs and cats cat when thejf require a vomit. Okl-fajbioncd fanners tit on« me belicvod that certain lands bred couch

It has been said that the Trifcicums are th« grasses which dogs and cats cat whoa thejf require a vomit. Okl-fasbioncd fanners tit on« me believed that certain loads bred coach

.grass, and laboured under vthe -idea that it l was uieleis to try and extirpate it ; but modern farmers never allow it to seed, biibi strenuously endeavour -to rid their land of the 1 '■pest. No, XXX.t-Daenel, ob Bkahded Daenel 1 (Lolmm tennlentum). This grass is a noxious weed, and generally , xegarded as poisonous, bub it is still doubtful if ; it is really so ; at any rate, whera it is prev;Ueut ia pastures the stock eating it are subject 'to vomiting, and in some oases intoxication. It is believed to be the tare of tbe Scriptures. It bears a resemblance to both perennial and Italian ryegrass, more especially to the latter, and is awued. IU chief difference from these grades is that the outer glume (being solitary) -is longer than thft spikelet to which it belongs ; the seed is 'also broader, more round, and darker in the colour. The seed is frequently found in- samples of imported flax {linseed). It is very common in the south of Knglai;d, and in the grain districts of Am< rioa, where it is called oheab. It has, of course, found its way to New Zealand, and is frequently confounded -with Brooms asper (the rough goose grass). fVu'iisere should make it fcbeir business to be able to distinguish- darnel, and where it is found growing no pains should bs spared to 'ta^e it -eradicated. So XXXI.— Wiu) Barley Guass fHordeum iatua) and Wall Barley Grass (Hordeum inurinum). Vbepe" two wild barley grasses bfar gome meti>blance to the cereal barley, but, unlike that useful plant, they are' useless and eveu dangerous wetds. The long, brittle awns of the flower spikes pie. cc the jkin aud damage the intestines of animals that may happen to ' eat them. They are frequently met with on ro»d sides, gravelly topa of ridges, and in paddocks where -the grasses have died oub. ■ Titty keep floweriug and seeding from early summer to well on in winter, aud cerurquently -Are very prolific. They are easily eradicated in well cultivated paddocks, bub are geuerally left to spread wholesale upon the road sides. No XXXII.t-The Wild Oat (Avena fatua). The wild oat is a too common weed in oat, barley, and wheat pa3d«cks. Probably it is the wild form of the cultivated oat. I1",I 1 ", is frequently met with in. grass paddocks, flowering when, only a few inches hijjh, bub on highly cultivated land ib frequently attains a height of * 4ft The spikdels are three flowered, and are armed with very long awns, the seeds resembling the artificial flies which are frequently used by fishers on troub streams. Although regarded as mi annual, it has proved itself to be biennial, and frequently perennial. It has been transplanted with ease, and will stand close grazing where it has obtsined a good hold of the soil. In grass paddocks it is not objectionable, being highly nutritive, but in corn crops it is a , thorough nuisance ; there it keeps seeding from November to January, shedding its seeds profnsfly on the ground, and yet ripening teed to be threshed with the .grain, thereby reducing the value of the sample. The seeds have a* rough coating tvbieh renders them almo&t impervious to wet. They will lie in the ground . for many years And yet retain their vitality. When wild oats have taken possession of a crop, the entire-paddock .should be' cut with a , reader and binder when very green and just' befon flowering. The produce makes an excellent chaff, and the paddock eh- mid then be ploughed and then left in a rough state; a large amount of herbage will speedily appear. If & large flock of sheep or a -mob of pigs be turned into the paddock they will very soon eat out the wild oats.* . .