The Dupuyer acantha. [volume] (Dupuyer, Mont.) 1894-1904, 1896-10-01
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KILLING GRASS.
An Improved Machine for Weed
Killing by Electricity

An Improved Machine for Weed
Killing by Eicctricity.
About two years ago n paragraph
appeared in the electrical Journals
stating that an electrical grass killer
had been experimental with for de-
stroying the weeds along the track of
a Southern railroad. Further details
were sought in vain, and the genera
assumption among experts was that
the invention had proved imuractica-
bic. The chief engineer of an Illinois
railroad now publishes some interest
ing particulars of the experiments
with his w views as to the possibili-
ties of an improved machine for weed
killing by electricity. The apparatus,
which was tested under his guidance
was subjected to a very limited trial.
1t consisted of Il wire brush about 10
feet long and 4 inches wide, suspended
by n frame from the end of a fiat car,
on which was placed n dynamo, the
necessary transformers and other cleo
trical equipment. The entire apparatus
was handled by a locomotive, from
which steam was furnished to operate
the dynamo. The brush was charged
WIN tulItHt, dliu HlDNtu SLOWLY along
in contact with the grass and weeds
at the side of the track the theory
being that it would enter the plants.
and, by breaking down their cellular
tissues, destroy their vitality. The
main difficulty encountered was in sup
plying enough current. Where the
brush trailed over thick Bermuda
grass, moving at a speed of about four
miles an hour there was apparently
no effect at the moment; but on the
following day the grass vas Withered
II dead. Where the brush was SuS-
pended so as to barely touch the edges
Of weed growth, or where the current
could be concentrated on isolated
pieces of vegetation, the plants charg-
ed We're burned and entirely destroy
ed. Milk weed and other vegetable
matter containing Il large percentage
of moisture would often be killed,
while the drier grass alongside of it
would be only slightly affected. The
deductions drawn from the expert
mentS were that Il machine might be
built which would effectively clear the
sides of railroad tracks of weeds and
grass at ii very much lower cost than
the operation by hand-power now in
wolves. A 800 horsepower dynamo
dilu eltclTlC apparatus, loSelDeG WIFI
the necessary steam power for the
same, would be required in order to
secure economical and satisfactory re-
suits. The brush would have to be of
greater t1eXibility, and possibly sub
divided into sections insulated from
each other, so that the energy would
be better distributed. The successful
machine for this purpose must be ca
pable of completely killing vegetation
inside of the rails and for a space of
three to four feet on each side, and
that continuously at a rate of five or
six miles an hour. The advantage of
such a method is that the destruction
of vegetation would be absolute. The
moderately effective results that We're
obtained in the experiments Wetlld not
by any mcans be accepted. but the
current would have to be strong
enough to kill every plant that came
within the radius of theSwcep of the
brush. But the possibilities of the sys-
ten were clearly demonstrated by the
experiments. Shortly after the ma
chine had passed several large weeds,
which were o~ne-SiXtecnth to one-eighth
of an mel in diameter in the stalk,
were pulled up. They were so hot at
the surface of the ground that they
could scarcely be held, and great heat
was felt even at the eXtremitieS of the
roots. Other pieces which did not ap-
pear to be affected by the application
of the brush were dead the neXt morn
ing.