The Hope pioneer. [volume] (Hope, N.D.) 1882-1964, 1908-05-28
ERADICATION
OF DANDEL|ONS
lBy H. L. Bolleyl

tBy II. l.. BOlley)
There have been such extended calls
for the circular on, dandelion eradi-
cation that the edition is exhausted.
I am writing this note to call attention
to the fact that in my previous circu-
lars have not advocated the efficacy !
of the spray for dandelions as strong
ly as the success of the work justities,
and that if the owners of lawns wish !
to free their lawns Of dandelions that
they have only to spray from four to
five times during the season and the
next year their lawn will be free from
everything except young dandelions
which come from wind blown seed.
Where the dandelions are big and
coarse, the first two sprayings can be
directed at the dandelions hitting them
harder than the grass is hit. AS they
absorb large quantities of the solution
before the end of the season, these old
roots will decay. After the first spray
ing they will be mp again in from ten
TO fifteen days. After the second
spraying, they will come up more
slowly and more feebly, and after the
third and fourth many of them will
fail to make an appearance The
trouble with the spraying method is
that it necessitates some Judgment
on the part of he person using it. The
grass can be burned If they allow the
spray to soak the ground. Stone
walks can be spoiled if they allow the
solution to be sprinkled upon the
walks. All clothing will be given
rusty color if allowed to come in con-
tact with the solution.
Iron sulphate is very cheap when
bought in bulk. For 100 feet of lawn
about 100 pounds will be needed dur
ing the year, and it will cost approxi-
mately one-half cent a pound. Many
people have asked whether sprink-
ling pot will do the work. A sprink-
ling pot will not do the work success
fully. I am not advertising sprink-
ling machines, but in this case they |
are a necessity. The solution must
be thrown with a fine forcible spray.
Suitable spraying machines for this
work may be had at from 81 so to $3.50
according to the kind of work to be
done. The $3.50 sprayers are com
pletely of brass and rubber construc-
ton. They are useful for all kinds of
spraying work.
There should always be purchased
with these hand sprays short brass
extension, three or four feet long.
This extension rod will allow one to
moro readily move the nozzle in a
wide sweep over the grass so that the
work con be more speedily done with
out STOPPING. Spraying should usu-
ally be done in the morning, when it is
evident that there is going to be day
full of bright sunshine. If the dande-
lions are small and thick, keep good
force on the pump so that the spray is
thrown with wide, haring conical
shape and then swing the nozzle slow
ly over both the grass. and the dande-
lion so as to cover the ground evenly
with the solution.
The nozzles should be in these cases
OF general spraying, held about six to
eight inches from the grass. As be-
fore indicated, if the dandelions are
large, they may be Individually given
an extra amount. When properly
sprayed and the sun has dried the
moisture, the dandelions will be rather
evenly covered with a white powder
which eventually in the presence of
night dews and the day sun, brings
about the killing of the dandelions.
The fact that the green grass appears
to be blackened does not indicate that
it is hurt at all. That may be due only
to the ink effect. 1t is essential that
the soil about the roots of the grass
should not be soaked with the solution.