Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1908-05-19
Wild Mustard.
CONTROLLED BY SPRAYING WITH IRON
sULPHATE.

While it is generally recognized
throughout the state that what Is called
wild mustard is one Of Names worst
weeds in some crops, 1t Is rarely that 1t
Is known that there are two plants which
differ but slightly in appearance, that
most people call wild mustard. One OF
these is the wild mustard proper,
Sinapsis arreasis, which Is also frequent
| ly and properly called "Charlock." The
weed which very closely resembles 1t
and is sometimes called Jointed or White
Charlock, is the wild radish, Raphanus
raphanistruns. The young wild mustard
plants are readily killed by spraying
with solutions of either copper sulphate
or iron sulphate. The wild radish is
| very resistant and in experiments made
at the Maine Agricultural Experiment
Station has even defied treatments with
20 per cent solution of iron sulphate re-
inforced with 5 per cent of sulphuric
acid.
To kill toild mustard. If one desires to
kill wild mustard mot wild radisb) 1t
can be readily accomplished In seeded
crops without injury to the grain or
grass by spraying with 20 per cent
solution OF iron sulphate. A power
sprayer on the same general plan as
potato sprayer should be used.
The solution is readily made as fol-
lows: Empty a 100 pound sack of
granulated iron sulphate into an oil bar
rel (which will hold about 80 gallons.)
Fill the barrel up with water and stir
vigorously for few minutes until the
sulphate goes into solution. The solu.
ton can be put into the spray tank and
used at once, or 1t can be kept in the
barrel until the desired time for use.
Iron sulphate solution is not poisonous
and can be handled without fear; white
clothing coming in contact with it, how
ever, will be discolored by iron stains.
The Spraying should be made on
calm, bright day after the dew has dis
appeared. If rain follows within few
hours the spraying is not as effective.
The grain fields should be sprayed when
the mustard plants are in the third leaf
or before the plants are in blossom. II
sprayed after the plants are in bloom, 1t
will kill the leaves but will not prevent
the formation of seed.
The only discouraging thing about
spraying for wild mustard in Maine is
that SO much that is commonly called
wild mustard is wild radish, and while
it has been claimed by Investigators in
Germany and France that they have kill
ed wild radish by spraying with 20
per cent solution of iron sulphate, 1t is
more than probable that they were
wrong in identifying the plant.
The two plants 80 closely resemble
each other that it is not until they fruit
and the seed pods form that they can be
positively distinguished except by one
who is thoroughly familiar with them:
If any one desires to send specimens of
these plants for Identification, they must
be full grown plants, with fruit pods
formed. The whole plant, roots, stem
and all must be packed so as not to be
crushed, and sent to the Agricultural
Experiment Station, Orono, Maine.
Although little or no encouragement
has been obtained in the experiments
thus far made at the Maine Station, that
wild radish can be controlled by spray
ing, trials will be continued in 1908.