The Pensacola journal. (Pensacola, Fla.) 1898-1985, 1905-11-22
COTTRELL'S Fn ss1is1g
VIII Be Re-0pened About Nov. Is.
TRYING TO KILL
WATER HYACINTHS
EXPERIMENTS ON ST. JOHNS
RIVER UNDER DR.. DAWSON
ARE PROGRESSING RAP
IDLY.

Experiments looking toward the dcs-
tructiOn of the water hyacinths are
progressing rapidly under the dirsc-
ton of DR.. Charles f. Dawson, veteri-
marian of the State Board of Health,
and expert chemist, who is now with
the steamer La Reve. in the upper st.
Johns, says the Jacksonville Times
Union. The work is being conducted
under the supervision of the United
States engineers, and reports are made
by DR.. Dawson to the Jacksonville Of
fee regularly.
Under the conditions on which the
appropriation for Kidding the waters
of the country of these Instructions
to navigation was made, no chemical
can be used which is poisonous to eat
tie, and for this reason the work must
be done very carefully. Tt is not like
ly that the final report on the results
of the experiments can be made up
in less than six weeks or two months,
but when ID is. it viii be complete N
every detail, and it is hoped that the
problem viii be satisfactorily solved
for all time
The old spray used for. destruction
Of the hyacinths did its work well. as
far as the destroying of the plants
was concerned. but several Of the cat-
tie owners made complaint that their
stock, feeding on the treated plants,
was injured, and that several of the
cows died as a result of the poisonous
chemicals used in the spray. This
necessitated a change in the means
-Uf warfare, and DIR. Dawson was in
structed to devise a safer means OF
doing the work.
Trying New Chemicals.
On the La Reve the experimenting
party has all the chemicals which there
is any likelihood of needing during the
course of experiments, and q small
laboratory has been fitted out for The
chemicals. A further test Of the old
spray is to be made, and at the same
time several now combinations de
vised by DIT. Dawson and his assist
ants VIII be tried. Just what these
are cannot be learned as yet. as it is
desired to make absolutely certain
OF The means TO be used before an OIL
cial report Is made fOl publication.
For the purpose of making the test
the more complete. cattle are being
herded near the points where the boat
Is at work, and the plants that nave
been treated with the new compounds
fed TO the animals. The results are
then carefully watched, and a fun re-
port made of the effects on the cattle.
If a chemical can be found which viii
be deadly to the hyacinths. and vet
harmless To cattle feeding upon the
plants, the problem viii be solved. and
the work OF Kidding the rivers and
smaller navigable streams Of these
distractions VIII then be pushed for
ward rapidly
Cattle Fond Of Plants.
Cattle are very fond of the water
hyacinth, and viii wade far out into
the streams for the purpose of secur-
ing them for eating, apparently pre-
ferring them TO all grasses and herbs.
This makes the work that is being un-
dertaken By DR.. Dawson all the more
difficult and makes IL necessary for
him TO proceed carefully in his ex-
periments.
Dr. Dawson Is one Of the most ex-
pert chemists In the country. and is p
veterinarian of note. For a number
of years he was with the Bureau If
Animal Industry In Washington. leav-
Ing there TO accept a position as IN
structOr in the University of Florida.
Later he was appointed veterinarian
to the State Board Of Health. and at
present has his home in Jacksonville.