The Ogden standard. [volume] (Ogden City, Utah) 1902-1910, 1909-07-12
SPRAYING WILL KILL
WEEDS IN THE GARDEN
How Science Destroys undesirable
Plants" and Allows the Grain
to Remain.

Fifteen years ago had YOU told the
average farmer that by going over his
grain fields with a spraying machine
he could eliminate practically every
weed with which they were infested
and leave the growing grain benefited
and unhurt. he probably would have
told You what he thought OF you, and
aad you persisted, he might have used
bodily eilort to enforce his opinion
But this very day that same farmer
is probably sitting placldly on the seat
OF modern traction sprayer. giving
his cereal fields a thorough drenching
of weed-killing substance that causes
the weeds 10 turn black and then
wither away-but leaving the grain
unscathcd
How did this transition come about9
Like all great discoyerles-very sim
pie
In 1896, Prof. II. L Bolley OF the
North Dakota Agricultural Experiment
Station, Fargo North Dakota, decided
TO make definite effort TO test wheth-
er 1t would be possible to kill Young
weeds especially young mustard
plants, in growing wheat. by means
of chemicals sprayed over the weeds
and grain, without killing them both
in so doing. He had long considered
such a proposition as very feasible.
but of course required some time TO
get what he considered the proper
proportions OF spraying mixture be-
fore making the first trial However.
he made the attempt in 1896 with So
lutions OF copper sulphatc and NOR
curlc bicaloride and met with suUpris-
ingly successful results, plainly dem
onStrating that he was upon the right
track. So TO our own United States
belongs the credit for this discovery.
although French Investigators were
working along the same lines at near
ly the same time In 1878 other ex-
haustNe experiments were undertak-
en-, and very shortly It was firmly es-
tablished that such work could be
practlced with high degree Of sue
cess by any farmer Since that time
experiments have been steadily pur-
sued along this line and the fact re-
mains that certain weeds can be en-
tlrely eliminated without destruction
TO the grain growing beside them.
The success of the entire project
Hes In the simple fact that the leaves
of nearly all farm weeds are broad
and somewhat rough and soft, while
on the other hand. the growing grain
plant is slender of stalk and leaf and
presents smaller and smoother sur
face. When the liquid Is sprayed
forth from the machine. the broad and
porous leayed weed catches and alb
serbs a sufficient quantity Of the
chemical to insure its death, while
from the slender grain plant. the liq-
uid runs of without doing any damage
After spraying, the tops of the entire
sprayed tract will turn black, but in
two or three days the grain plants will
have regalned their natural color and
original strength, while the weeds are
withered and dead.
Sulphate of iron has largely sue
Ceeded copper Sulphate because Of the
cheapnesS of the former, and many
tons Of 1t are now being used in this
anti-weed campaign. The spraying
should be done when both the grain
and the weeds arc young. about the
lime the grain Is four TO eight inches
high. although some later experiments
by Professor Bolley indicate that the
work can be carried on when the grain
Is older. The more rapid the growth
of the weed, the more susceptible il
is to the effect of the spTayin. mix
ture, and the more thoroughly the
work can be done.
There are, of course, some weeds
that cannot be affected without in
jury to the grain. but the most prev
alent of the 'vagrant" weeds. such as
false flax, worm seed mustard. tumb.
ling mustard, common wild mustard,
shepherds purse, pepper grass, ball
mustard. corn cookie, chiclIweed. dan
delion. Canada thistle. bindweed, plan
tain, rough plgweed. kinghead, Red
river weed, rag weed and cocklebur,
can all be controlled, and in nearly
every case, entirely eradlcated. by
careful and systematic spraying
1t is not the writer's intention to
make this a conclusive article. but
rather to stimulate interest in what
is undoubtedly one of the greatest
boons to the farmer that has yet been
discovered. And especially is this so.
where there are large tracts OF land,
and heretofore not sufficient help to
thoroughly work them,
Where the field is large and uniform
lly infested with weeds, a traction
sprayer that will generate enough pres-
sure To throw a fine, powerful mist
through Deming Bordeaux nozzles,
makes the most satisfactory outfit,
but where the weeds grow in patches,
small cart sprayer will give very
satisfactory results. Nearly any spray
pump manufacturer can give very
complete information about spray
pumps for this purpose.
Professor Bolley has Issued from
time TO time bulletins on weed spray
ing. which contain valuable informa-
ton and give details of the entire OPP
Grafton. also many other points relat.
Ing TO weeds, Copies of the bulletins
are sent free 10 anyone on request
The same principle mentioned be-
fore in this article, can be made use
of in riddlng dandelions from your
lawns, viz, by using sulpnate of iron
in proportions of about two pounds TO
the gallon OF water
There is nothing miraculous at all
In this method of weed eradication It
Is simply an application of common
sense. and after we give 1t little sob
or investigation, we wonder why It
tbanqht pf ,,,r,-,