The Ellensburg dawn. [volume] (Ellensburg, Wash.) 1898-1914, 1907-04-19
WEED DESTROYER


are now being carried on by the station
but definite results cannot be obtained
until another year shows whether the
thistle roots are killed; as we hope, by
the frequent blighting of the tops"
1t is at once apparent that every sec
tion of the country will share in the
benefit OF this discovery. The various
weeds that iron sulphate will destroy
are found to prevail in different locali-
ties. The white daisy is familiar to
eastern farmers, the rasn weed to
western, wild mustard is widely scat
tered and Canada thistle grows in most
OF the northern states.
BY means of the various tests carried
on 1t is now pretty well established that
the best time for spraying grain field
infected with mustard is when the
mustard plants are in the third leaf.
II done before this there is risk of some
seed terminating after the operation
which would make second spraying
necessary. If delayed on the other
hand until the flower buds are formed
the spraying checks but does not
entirely destroy the weed and seed
may be formed. In the Wisconsin ex
pertinent, however, mustard twenty-siX
inches high was destroyed with one
spraying. The best results are obtain.
ed when the plants are taken in the
younger stage. 1t is the opinion OF
English authorities that if the mustard
is sprayed after the stems and flowers
are formed that though the leaves are
destroyed the stems and flowers retain
sufficient vitality to form seeds, the
number Of which is much less than in
the case of a plant in the normal con-
dition. The principle acted upon is TO
prevent the mustard from forming
flowers and seed. The stock of seed in
the ground will then be used up in the
course of time and if no further seeding
takes place, the pest will be complete
ly gotten rid of.
The time for making the teat is of
extreme Importance. The condition
of the weather is factor to be consd-
cred. The day must be sunshny and
bright There must be no wind and
the dew should have evaporated. If
rain follows the spraying within few
hours the solution will be weakened
and the mustard will not be successful
| ell 81,
teen hours after the spraying the ex
termination will be quite perfect. In
case of rain two hours after, fly per
cent. of the mustard lived to produce
seed.
Two days after the spraying all that
can be found of the mustard is black
powder where the plant stood. Very
little damage is done to the grain crop
by driving over it at this time of the
year. In the test made, strips were
left unsprayed in the center of the
grain fields to prove the effectiveness
of the experiments. After two days
the strip stood out distinct with its yell
low blossoms. Where the spraying
was done not live plant could be
found.
The sprayer used for the tests has
the appearance of a chemical fire en-
CINE but for the fact that the large cop
per tank which holds seventy-llve gal
Ions of solution is mounted on two
wheel cart and is drawn by one horse.
| Pipes filled with numerous holes ex-
tend like arms ten feet from each side
of the machine. A fog like spray is
spread over the field from these pipes.
A pump is set in motion by the draw
ing Of the machine. This keeps pres
sure of one hundred pounds on the
liouid. The arms of the machine can
be adjusted so that the spray is brought
close to the crop or in case of narrow
places the arms can be raised perpen-
dicularly. Care is taken to prevent
foreign material from gaining entrance
to the reservoir. The solution before
using is strained through fine wire
sieve.
To spray one acre OF grain requires
about one hundred pounds OF iron sui
phate dissolved in fifty four gallons of
water. The sulphate of iron is BLUSH
powder and resembles graduated sugar.
1t disso.ves readily in water and in
five or ten minutes has gone into solu-
ton. 1t is not poisonous, so will not
iniure stock. One man can do the
work of spraying.
The cost of spraying an acre of grain
IS such as to make it entirely practical.
The sulphate of iron costs fifty-five
cents per acre. The cost of labor is
estimated at twenty cents, making
total of seventy-fve cents per acre.
The opinion of the farmers as to the
cost will afford the best criterion by
which to Judge as to the feasibility of
the use of the solution. One Wiscon-
sin farmer who owns farm OF 400