The Florida agriculturist. [volume] (DeLand, Fla.) 1878-1911, 1897-06-02

IlOC the OCKldWdna, IL WOulQ
probably exceed 1000 miles. The Ockla-
waha river, which is badly infested for
over 100 miles of it's length, would great
ly increase the coast line which must be
considered If extirpation is proposed.
EXtirpatiOn, If successful, means the
destruction of every plant and every
seed or rootstock which may give rise to
new plant 1t would be comparatively
easy to destroy the great bulk of the
plants, but exceedingly difficult to eradi
cate the fragments here and there trod-
den into the mud or hidden. under roots.
The entire shore line of the st. Johns and
all it's tributaries would have to be care
fully searched several seasons in sue
cession. Eradication may be possible,
but the writer greatly doubts it's feast
bility. Considering the immense extent
of territory and the inaccessibility of a
large part or it, it is not probable that
every plant could be destroyed and were
a few left they would, in the course of
few years, reinfest the entire territory
If the plant forms seeds in Florida
which is thought to be the case, the diff
some of the seeds might retain their vi
tality for a number of years. On the
whole, the writer has been forced to the
conclusion that eradication is imprac-
ticable. He finds, furthermore, that
those who have given the matter candid
consideration mostly agree in this opin-
ion. The evil, however, is certainly so
serious that means should be devised, If
believed can be accomplished at fairly
reasonable expense.
Mechanical Devices.-The water hya-
cinth is easily killed in many ways, but
only those methods which are thought to
be the most practical can be discussed
here
Probably the most feasible device for
killing the plant is that suggested by
Mr.. Sackett, assistant engineer of the
War Department. He recommends the
construction of a Hght-draft stern
wheel steamer, having a double bow or
outrigger, which, being forced into a
mass of plants, would cause them to
gather toward the middle of the boat
where an inclined carrier would pick them
up and deposit them in front of rollers
driven by machinery, which would force
the water from them, thus greatly re-
ducing their bulk The crushed material
could be delivered to barges alongside, to
be deposited where no injury could again
result, or a cremator could be arranged
along side of the boat, and so save add1-
tionaI handling 1t would seem to the
writer perfectly feasible to construct
crushers suggested by Mr.. Sackett strong
enough SO the plants would be DESTROYED,
in which case the fragments could sim
ply be dumped into the river. In an ap-
paratus of this kind the danger to the
machinery from hidden trash and logs
must be considered. By having lever
with which the carrier could be quickly
stopped man constantly on guard could
probably prevent serious accident to the
MACHINERY
A boat constructed like the above, but
with carriers to deposit the plants on the
shore, instead of crushing them could be
used to advantage in many places. Ii
worked in connection with bOOmS con-
structed at points along the river to col
lect the plants, it is possible that this
plan would prove more satisfactory than
the above. Floating, log booms could be
constructed at favorable points to collect
the DlantS. The Qrodge working near the
shore could then easily throw the plants
out upon dry land. When all the plants
which had accumulated at one point were
destroyed, the dredge could proceed to
another station. By destroying the plants
thus collected at regular intervals along
the river, which could be done at com
paratively small expense, it is thought
the river could be kept open to navlga-
ton. In case either method were fol-
lowed, log booms should be placed across
the entrances to bayous, creeks, etc, to
confine the large masses of plants as far
as possible, and prevent their rapid re-
production. 1t has been demonstrated
that this can be easily accomplished. The
carrier device to deposit the plants on
the shore would be particularly effective
in canals. In regard to mechanical de-
vices, however, it may be said that they
are all simply temporary eXpedientS.
Destructive misunderstanding gaso
line on the water and igniting it has been
suggested as a means of killing the water
hyacinth, but on account of the great eX-
pense this would entail and the danger
from fire it is not believed to be practical
BILE. Destruction by sailing or poisoning
the water or covering the surface with
kerosene or crude petroleum has also
been suggested, but it is believed that
these methods would prove or lttle
value
Freezes.-Such freezes as are likely to
occur in Florida cannot be expected to
kill the water hyacinth. The writer care