St. Johnsbury Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1867-1919, 1911-07-12
THE HAWK WEED.
Prof. j. IL. Hills Tells What Expert
nlent Station Has Done About 1t.


1 notice in this mornings Free
Press a quotation from the Caledoni-
an touching the orange haWkWeed
or paint brush in which you say that
cit would be a proper thing for the
Experiment Station to find out some
thing about this weed and what to do
about it, or words to that effect. A
somewhat similar statement appear
ed in the Bennington Banner some
time ago. That the Experiment Sta
ton may point out it's relationship to
the matter may / ask you to print the
following:
Early in 1897 the Experiment Sta
ton published bulletin No. Sc upon
the Orange Hawkweed or Paint
brush. The first words in this bulle-
tin read as follows: 1.-THE orange
hawkweed or paintbrush is the worst
weed known in certain portions of
Vermont and threatens to invade
cautions are taken.'' A map. was
included showing its distribution in
the state, and it was pointed out
therein that Caledonia and Benning-
ton counties as we'll as other sections
were comparatively free from the
weed The bulletin described the
plant; indicated the way in which it
spread and the means whereby it
might be kept out, particularly how
farmers and others might kill it out
absolutely by vigligance. In order
the more certainly to get this infor-.
nation diffused over tn state, and
particularly in those regions not bad
ly infested, a poster bulletin was pre-
pared with short description of the
plant and means of combat. Upon
each poster bulletin was a water
color painting of the plant. This was
sent to every postoffice in the state
and was we believe hung up in every
one. Tt was a striking one and could
not help attracting much attention.
Bulletin No. Sc, ives sent in large
numbers all over the state. Portions
of it were copied in newspapers and
a vigorous effort was made to warn
people of it's dangers. Notwithstand-
ing, comparatively few people, we
have reason to believe, followed the
instructions given and the plant is
now thoroughly established the
whole state over. I submit that the
Station was alive to the situation and
did what it could.
note you query whether it is soil
conditions which are at fault. The
trouble lies solely in the extremely
effective method by which this plant
spreads, its great degree of adapt
ability 20 varying soil conditions,
climates and attitudes. 1t propagates
itself rapidly by runners and by seeds
and can only be combated by clean
culture where practicable and by
heavy sailing when it occurs in
patches only.
may say finally that in the last
5 years the Station has had a large
amount of correspondence touching
this weed and has advised as to how
to handle it.
Yours truly,
j. L. HILLS, Director.
Burlington, VT, July 10, 1911.
1t was not the intention of the edi-
tor to suggest that the Experiment
Station was Indifferent in any way to
the presence of this pest. We simply
wanted TO suggest that the prevalence
of this weed was due to a lack of
certain elefents of the soil, to its
acidity or some other condition 1--WE
confess we do not know what) and
that an investigation might reveal
the true cause of its prevalence. Next
to the last paragraph of Prof. Hills
letter indicates that it is not. We
did not intend to criticize the Expert
ment Station but suggest a possible
service for it. We are glad to have
our readers informed of what has
been done.
Ed.