The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1916-10-23
IN taADIChII.G WILD
GARLIC Al D 0aIOaS

GARLIC A. D OaIOa
DR.. r. d. Fromme, v. r. I. Plaat PatA-
eiogist Gives Instructions A
to Methods.
Blacksburg, Va, Oct. 2z.-Dr. r. D.
Fromme, plant pathologist AZ the vir-
ginia Polytechnic Institute. has this
to say as to the best methods OF get
ting rid of wild garlic and onions In
the nelds. DR.. Fromme says:
wild garlic, more commonly called
wild onion. Is one OF the most noxious
weed pests In Virginia. No section
of the State Is entirely free from Il,
but 1t Is much less common in the
Southwestern part than elsewhere.
this weed not only crowds the grow
ing crop and robs 1t of moisture and
feed az do other weeds, but continues
its damage after harvest. The top
bulbs, often called seeds" ripen at
harvest and are SO similar to wheat
in size and weight that their scpara-
tion is very difficult and can only be
iade after considerable drying. The
dockaEe on wheat containing garlic
Is usually from Ave to ten cents a
bushel. and IL much In present the
miller may refuse to grind It under any
condition. The dairy industry suffers
from the presence of garlic In pas
lures and the consumer must tolerate
tho garlic flavor in milk, cream ana
butter. or nullify his sense OF taste by
eating an onion before each meal 1t
10 claimed that the odor will disap-
pear from milk II the COW is removed
from the garlic pasture four hours
| before milking, but this In disputed
by some observers. 1t Ia possible to
remove the favor from milk and cream
by heating and passing compressed
air through 1t. but this Is . make
shift. The weed should be destroyed
in the field and the contamination Of
produce prevented
This L. moro easily said than done,
and the fact that the garlic plant Is
increasing It's range annually is proof
Of the difficulty of the task of eradicat-
ing It, One farmer stated q common
experience in these words: The only
way I know to get rid OF garlic IL to
die and leave IT; I've tried every other
way
Two methods Of eradication have
been advocated and. If directions ere
followed closely. will destroy wild gar
lilo. Ths method to be used will de-
extent OF the fnfestation.
zone method consists in spraying the
weed with 'smudge' OIL also called
orchard heating OIL This method
10 particularly advantageous where
the weed OCCURS in patches in pas
ture land or along borders of fields
and roadsidea The spraying must be
done early In the spring while the
garlic plants are in the tender leaf
stage. before heading. This time will
usually come during the first two or
, three weeks in April. The oil should
be strained through cheesecloth with,
out diluting and must be applied as
a hne mist with sprayer. Any type
of sprayer will do knapsack or
bucket sprayer will do very we'll for
small patches. but II much spraying
Is needed a barrel sprayer will be
found more serviceahle and will do for
general farm spraying in addition.
The spray must cover all plants. but
/ 1t Is unnecessary to soak the soil.
The tops will be killed in few days
and the oil will penetrate to the un-
derground bulbs and rot them In a
week or SO. The oil Will destroy all
vegetation reached. but many plants,
especially those with deep top roots,
| will recover. Alfalfa will send up new
| shoots in a few weeks after spraying.
Bluegrass will sometimes survive, or
If not. may be reseeded. The oil does
not injure the soil nor prevent the
termination of seeds. and crops can be
grown and matured normally. Seeding
should be delayed two or three weeks
after treatment. The oil Is not poison
GUS to stock when used in pastures.
where the weed Is scattered all
over a cultivated field the oil treat
ment may be used. in which case 1t
will be advisable to use a traction field
sprayer. a potato sprayer, or to ut up
barrel sprayer with a boom carrying
four nozzles and mount on wagon.
This will be found rather expensive,
however, as the oil will cost about IS
per acre at present quotations.. It
should be used at the rate OF about
10 gallons per acre. The second meth
cd may be used to good advantage in
the case OF general field infestatien.
This is a cultural method and consists
In deep late fall blowing. followed by
spring blowing, or cultivated crop.
preferably corn In check rows. Gull
tivate as often and as late as prac-
ticable. This will usually clean up a
field. but. II few plants remain, a
second year OF the treatment will In
sure eradication. or the few remaining
plants may be destroyed with the
smudge oil in a hand sprayer."