The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1908-08-24
TO WAGE WAR
ON LARKSPuR
Government Proposes to Eradi-
cate Poisonous Plant From
the National Forests.
TIMOTHY NATURAL ENEMY
FOUND THAT DANGER Turks IN
ROOTS.
TIMOTHY NATURAL ENEMY
Especial TO The Herald)

Especial 10 Inc derdluD
Washington Aug. 23.-The losses to the
cattle men in the western states from
larkspur poisoning every year have been
so serious that the government is max
ing vigorous effort to find an antidote
for the poison. as well as to eradicate
the plant itself
In the Gunnison National forest. Colo
RADIO, the losses to the stockmen last sea-
son from larkspur were conservatlvely
estimated to equal almost per cent of the
total number of cattle grazed upon the
forest.
Its effects are almost immediate. Death
follows the eating of the plant within a
few hours. For this reason remedies are
of little avail because the animals are
generally dead before they are discovered.
Experts from the bureau of plant indus
try, in cooperation with the forest serv-
ice. have made careful and painstaking
investigations in the field, with view of
essening the losses as far as possible,
while several different plans have been
tried in hopes of completely destroying
the plant.
Grows in Profusion.
Larkspur grows very lpxuriantly in the
early spring. On the G0nniSon forest III
June, 1908, the forest officers counted
more than 1900 plants in blossom upon
a single square rod. The plant seems
to be more poisonous in hot, damp
weather than in dry seasons. and II has
been observed that when the ground is
hard and dry. so that in eating it the
stems break Off leaving the roots in the
ground, il is not so deadly in its effects.
Since certain areas are well known to
be badly infested with larkspur. the stock
men have been in the habit of herding
their cattle from such places. AS far as
possible. these areas will be fenced by
the forest service. On other areas, where
it is not so plentiful, the plants will be
dug out by the forest rangers. and also
moved off to prevent seeding again.
Grasses Natural Enemy.
1t has also been found that the plant
will not hold its own against certain
kinds of grasses, such as timothy y few
acres sOwed in timothy, are being care
fully watched and it is believed that it Is
crowding the larkspur out. 1t seems prob
able that by sowing timothy on the noun
tain meadows the larkspur could be grad
ually smothered and replaced by valu-
able forage plant.
If this pan is supported by good evil
dence this season, timothy will be extern
lively soWed later on. Meanwhile. upon
this as we'll as several other national
forests, where the losses from this plant
are very serious, the building of fences TO
keep the cattle off the most dangerous
areas is being pushed by the forest serv-
ice and will be continued as fast as funds
are available for the purpose.
j. c. Thomas of Crawford Col. made
an experiment in feeding the larkspur
some years ago TO determine, if possible
just what part of the plant contained the
poisonous properties. A yearling steer
was fed a large quantity of the leaves.
with no injurious results. A few days
later the same animal was fed a uuan-
tity of the roots. and within ten hours
it was dead. thus justifying the suspicion
that the poisonous matter was contained
in the root.
GetAinto the swim al Saltair.