St. Johnsbury Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1867-1919, 1902-08-06
Warning to Farmers.

George Aitkep, president of the Yer
mont Agricultural Association, and man
ager of the celebrated Fred Billings"
farm at Woodstock probably the test
conducted farm in Vermont-writes to
the Vermont Standard at Woodstock
with reference to the danger Of the
orange hawk-weed, or what is perhaps
better known as the DEVILS Paint Brush,
which seems destined to work immense
injury to our northern Vermont farms
unless its growth is checked, He recon-
mends 800 pounds OF salt per acre,
although other good authorities say that
400 pounds is better.
When salt can be bought for 81 per
ton-that is the price that Governor
Page sells it for at his Hide House it
seems foolish to allow this terrible pest
to get loothod in Lamoille county.
Mr.. Atken might have added that the
State Experiment Station says that the
salt more than pays for itself in the i'll
crease of yield of hay, where it is used on
meadows. He says
Il have lately received numerous in
quiries relating to the spread, and the
best means of graduating, the dangerous
weed known as the orange hawk-weed
or paint brush, and take this method of
answering them.
About ten years ago canvas OF the
state showed that the quack-grass was
considered the most dangerous weed OF
Vermont, but today the hawk-weed is
| by tar the most serious. 1t is a native
OF the Alpine regions OF Europe and was
introduced into the Eastern states as a
garden plant early last century, and
while it is recognized as pest in Eastern
Canada, Maine, New York and Northern
Pennsylvania, it seems to have found in
| Vermont its most congenial habitat, and
is rapidly taking possession of our hill
pastures. In common with most other
weeds it succombs readily to thorough
cultivation, but on our hill pastures
where cultivation is impossible, when
once established it spreads rapidly and
eventually kills out all the grass. Its
first appearance in Woodstock was no.
ticed about nine years ago and true to
its nature it appeared first on the highest
points in the vicinity, but seems to be
adapting itself to the lower attitudes
and is now to be found in patches all
over the town. 1t is easily recognized
by its orange red blossoms about the
size OF silver quarter, and blooms from
June to November. 1t has been estimated
that a single plant will produce in one
season about twelve hundred seeds, and
that is only one OF its modes of propaga-
ton, as it spreads rapidly by means OF
root stock or underground stems, and
also by runners sent out from the base OF
the plant after the manner OF strawberry
plants. 1t is utterly worthless as a for
age plant and should be exterminated
wherever found; the most effectual
method is of course to dig it up, but
when that is not practical it may be
killed by the use Of salt.
THE State Experiment Station recon-.
mends 800 pounds Of salt per acre, this
amount of salt will not usually damage
the grass, but on some soils will benefit
it. When using salt care must be taken
to put it on when the sun is hot and the
plant perfectly dry as the salt operates
by absorbing the moisture from the
plant. Failures reported in the use Of
salt were caused either by not using
enough or in putting it on when the
plants were wet.
1T is to be hoped that the farmers Of
Woodstock will be on the lookout for
this weed and destroy it before it gets
such toothold as it has in Franklin,
Grand Isle, Lamoille and Chittenden
counties, where it has practically ruined
many pastures"