New-York tribune., 1902-12-05
GETTING RID OF HYA CLNTH,S.
WORK UNDERTAKEN BY THE GOVERN
MENT IN FLORIDA WATERS

Jacksonville, Fla. Dec. Specialize those who
know Of the hyacinth only as a pretty water
plant It may seem strange that the government Is
devoting thousands of dollars toward destroying
IT and that only after this State and OF in
dividuals and companies have devoted large sums
TO the same purpose. But ii is true. The hyacfnth
that blooms in so lovely manner and is a pretty
household plant has become in Florida waters a
terrible pest menace to the navigation of the
rivers and creeks and has cost steamboat COM
panies and lumbermen a large amount OF money
in the vain endeavor to clear out the St johns
and its tributaries
The hyacinth was introduced here many years
ago by planter living near Palatka. on the St
Johns hfty-seven miles above here 1t speedily
fourished and the owners admiration ana
delight Later the plants began spreading, ana
soon covered the bayous in the St Johns. near
his place and later they spread to South FLORIDA
Year by year the invasion increased and soon
the rivers and creeks became almost impassaole Tor
boats by reason of the immense beds or hyacinths
clogging up the waters. Many were the schernes
tried in the effort TO rid the waters Of this pest
Chemical solutions were sprinkled on them, but
the hyacinths only grew the faster Boats were tried
that had sharp propellers TO cut them down, and
the plants were dragged out on the banks This
proved costly.
government was appealed to. An appropria ton
was secured, and the government engineers tackled
the problem Many were the ideas and sugses-
tions given Scores were tried and given UP as
experienced and in time the engineers here. taking
lessons from those work there, solved the
problem and in q few days the large steam tug
La Reve started out in its first fight against the
hyacinth pest, fully equipped for its work.
The tug purchased for this work espe-
cially and is strong and stanch, with extra heavy
boilers and engines. that power can be used TO
force the boat through the beds Of the plant.
For the last year more the st. Johns has
been covered with floating beds of the plant vary
ing from, fbOSa Of few
mile or TWO long, and extending sometimes from
shore to shore. As the plants became crowded
together they packed. closely, almost soudly. and
in many places. the upper St Johns where the
river is narrow they soldly packed that
people can cross the river them The roots ex-
tend down from four feet and the plants are
so solidly and compactly packed that an ordinary
steamer cannot force its way through them
The tug is expected clear this all away
and much interest has been awakened throughout
the State by this work. the losses entailed by
this pest felt every hand. Along with the
tug, 8, tender will be large barge. on which
are two big tanks, with capacity OF 5000 gallons
each with large boiler attached the latter being
@ S ged IN @ cang Re of f6a tree anPs on
the tug is $500 gallons each 4 huge spraying @
pump forces the chemical solution through pipes
se 6i as PeT q 66a S oSa over the BEDS Of ayscinths
One sprayer is fastened at the bow. and the other
thus enabling the workn,en to give wide dis
5ution to The spray the & spray at IN tact @ an w aPe pe
around the bow. BY steaming along steadily into
the bed Of plants ii is expected that the boat VIII
be enabled to cover something like 10000 square
yards daily. It Will be seen from this on what a
large scale the war against the hyacinth is 10 be
waged. II is expected that the boat will be at
work all winter and next spring. and that then
noticeable results of the success OF the work will
be observed The work will be continued here for
several years possibly. before the hyacinth is en-
tirely eradicated.
The plant is constructed under the patent of the
Harvesta Chemical Compound Company, OF New
Orleans, and the patentse. Charles Harvesta, has
been here overseeing the details. It is the
same plan practically that proved successful in the
bayous OF Louisiana. and boats are at work IN
Mexico and Australia, where kind or cactus
growth In the waters has grtw wn TO be a menace TO
navigation Captain E W. Bruce. the government
engineer IN charge OF this district will have
charge Of the work.
Mr. Haryesta, in describing the process says that
far this compound has been found remarkably
eficacious in killing the plant The chemical
solution thrown on the plant goes down TO the
roots and kills every Every seed is killed
also. In two hours after being sprayed the
plants shrivel up and in short time afterward dis
integrate so completely that fear is felt or
the plants drifting toward other localities
The tug will begin work IN Black Creek, a large
stream a few miles above Jacksonville. in a few
days. and great interest is felt, as there Is so
N1uc p