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Show Identification of Perennial Weeds L. A. CLARK The article of last week included the Program of Utah County and the growing problem of weed control con-trol in the state. Wild Morning Glory, our common "curse" is known by most people. The plant has made its appearance by this time. A narrow heart shape leaf anchored to long white roots which break easily when one attempts at-tempts to piUl the plant. There are two varieties of wild morning glory, the narrow and broad leaf. The root system is similar and they are equally hard to control. The seed is about the size of the shot used in the air rifle, very rough coated and generally flattened on one side. Don't plant anything with seeds which might contain wild morning glory. White top is breaking out like small sores in many (sections of Pleasant Grove. During the last week the writer has been asked to identify patches of wiiite top on farms where the owner had not known of the infestation. infes-tation. White top has a very complex "mciuuim rooi; system, similar in a number of ways to morning glory. The roots extend deep into the soil and spread rapidly by branching out in aU directions. The buds on the underground root stocks having the power to reproduce repro-duce new plants. This dry year has hurried the flowering of white top to the extent ex-tent that some plants will be in full bloom by the time this article is published. The plants will be smaller and shorted this year which means they are more apt to be missed and allowed to seed. The seed of white top is flat in shape, reddish in color, and about half the size of the carrot seed. Upon Up-on close examination the seed will contain small ridges, running In a circular direction. If one bites the feed of white top he g-ts a similar taste to that of water crest, or mustard. We have a few patches of perennial peren-nial sow thistls in this community. Excepting the underground root stocks one might be sure to think, i cf nerennial sow thistle in forms of common dandelion. The seeds of sow thktle are scattered by the wind about the same as dandelion. . The si?-- cf the s-"d is between that of dandelion and the common ! we?d known as prickly or wild let-, let-, tuce. I Patches cf any cf the weeds mentioned men-tioned should brought under control con-trol at once. Clean cultivation is no doubt the most, valuable method of weed eradication eradi-cation at the present time. The next article will consider in more detail the practice of clean cultivation to control and eradicate perennial weeds. |