The Mason County journal. [volume] (Shelton, W.T.) 1886-1927, 1899-08-18

orange colored stems which6 entwine
about other plants apf draw their
nourishment from them. No less than
FIVE different kinds are known to
attack clover and alfalfa. An other
sort is found on the willow, and still
another confines itself to the plants
that grow along the seashore. Still
others attack the fax, the nettle. and
other plants.
All the dodders are annual plants,
and all are parasites !; that is, they
live upon other plants, from which
they draw their nourishment by means
of minute sucker-like organs, which
penetrate into the tissues of the host
plant. In late summer and fall the
dodders produce clusters OF minute
white flowers, whose structure reveals
the fact that the dodders are close
relatives OF the morning glory. In
deed they might be called degenerate
morning glorys, which on account OF
their parasitic habit have had their
leaves reduced to mere scales, and have
also lost their green color. Later the
dodders produce numerous small black
seeds, and il is by sowing these along
with the clover Or alfalfa seeds that
most fields become infested, =
THE YOUNG DoDDBR.
When the dodder seed terminates
it produces a slender .leafless stalk,
which, if it comes in contact with a
clover or alfalfa stem, twines about
it, soon producing the minute suckers
which penetrate into the host plant.
AS the dodder plant grows, it pro-
duces branches which spread out and
reach new stems. which in turn they
entwine. Usually the clover or alfalfa
is quickly killed by the edodder, which
is continually spreading in all direc-
tions and attacking new plants. On
this account a dodder-infested spot
commonly presents the appearance ; OF
a circular area of dead clover or alfalfa,
with the dodder growing on .'the
margins Of the circle. This keeps up
until the severe frosts come.
IN some cases it happens that whole
fields of clover are destroyed by dodder,
but no such severe cases have been
reported in this State.
HOW TO GET RID OF DoDDER.
GRAzING.-In case a whole field is
badly infested with dodder, probably
the best method is to keep it closely
grazeI with sheep for one whole
season. ~
CuLTIvATIoN.--If the sheep are not
available the land can be planted for
one or two seasons with some crop
that can be cultivated, such as roots or
corn. Clean cultivation is necessary
il the land is again to he sown to clover
or alfalfa, as few .dodder-infested
clover plants In the field would again
start the first.
BuRNING.-When the doddcr occurs
only in spots, probably the best
method is to burn out such spots.
This is easiest done by spraying the
spots with kerosene, and then. touch
ing match to it. This will kill the
dodder without injuring the eclover
roots. Straw will not answer as it
does not. burn close TO the ground:
Chips soaked in kerosene will do, but
spraying the kerosene on the plant is
cheaper, especially if done with a
knapsack sprayer. =
MowING.-If the infested spots are
moved down close to the ground
several times IN the season, the dodder
can usually be eradicated. 1t is safer
to remove the dodder after moving, as
In moist weather it remains alive, and
growing several days after the clover is
cut. Close moving is necessary to
insure success by this method, which
one OF my correspondents reports COM
pletely successful.
THE OLD, OLD METHOD.
A number of other methods have
been advanced, but need not be men
toned here. If the spots are quite
small, the old, old method Of hoeine
them out is one that is always sue.
cessful. :.
1t need scarcely be mentioned that
IN sowing clover or alfalfa, clean ;eeed.
should be used. Seed from I tlodder
infested field is always dangerous.
The experiment station will be glad to
examine any samples of clover alfalfa
sent.them, and will report whether or
not dodder seed is mixed in TIC. ".
PIPER.- ashington Agricultural En-
pertinent Station at Pullman. Wash.
Suumap ppurirc