Free trader-journal and Ottawa fair dealer. (Ottawa, Ill.) 1920-1927, 1920-04-02

braska, and Arkansas to Washing, on.
Montana, Colorado and New Mexico,
this name is applied to n low bush or
trailing shrub which does not climb.
The leaves of all forms have stout
rather long stems. hearing three leaf
lets, two of which are opposite, and
short stalked, while the third has 81
long stalk. The leaflets are from one
TO four inches long, dark green on the
upper surface, lighter sometimes with
a vclvety covering OF fine hair) un-
derncath, with smooth or somewhat
indentcd margins.
In the eastern states and westward
ns far as Wyoming to Texas. the Vr-
gina Crecpcr Is found generally in the
same location as poison ivy vine,
which it resembles somewhat in its
habits and the shape of its leaflets, but
1t can be readily distinguished from
poison ivy in that It's leaves are divided
into three to five leaflets to the stalk
Moreover, though it is sometimes sup
ported by aerial rootlets. like poison
ivy, 1t also has numerous tendrils like
those of the grape vine, and its in
edible fruits are blue, with red stems,
and contain two or three seeds.
How to Recognize Poison Sumac.
Poison Sumac grows in moist ground,
usually in sWnmpS or along low, miry
banks of streams and ponds. 1t oc-
ours from New England TO Florida, and
westward to Minnesota. Arkansas and
Louisiana. The poison sunac leaves
are readily distinguished from the
harmless Sumnc and species of ash,
elder and other shrubs and trees hav-
ing n somewhat similar foliage. and
the character, appearance and color of
the fruits furnish other simple means
of identification. Furthermore. the
poison sumac occurs on moist or
swampy land, and in drier locations is
found only along the borders of
SWamps or hogs. The number of leaf
lets into which the leaves of the harm
less sumacs are divided range from 9
to u and 81, while the poison sumac
leaves divide into Z to IL leaflets.
While many persons are Of the opin.
ion that contact with these plants Is
not necessary to produce poisoning, it
is probable that many cases supposed
to have originated in this way have
actually been due to direct or indirect
contact. There are cases on record
showing that the smoke from burning
plants will give rise to irritation, and
in some cases severe poisoning has re-
suited from this form Of exposure. Re
garding the popular belief that some
persons are wholly immune, the in,
vestigators state that there is good
reason to believe absolute immunity
docs not exist. although il is reCog
nizcd that some persons are much less
susceptible than others.
How to Eradicate Poisonous Plants,
Eradication of these plants should
be widely undertaken and followed
up systematically. Every landowner
should feel measure Of responsibility
in this matter The simplest method
is by grubbng in which care should /
he taken to cover the hands properly, ,
and also to prevent infection by means /
Of the clothing. The plants In fields !
may be destroyed by blowing them up (
and putting in cultivated crops. Often /
moving is also effective. The |
use of kerosene is recommended where /
injury to other plants or trees is not |
to be feared. 1t may be applied with .
n sprinkler or n spraying pump, and .
in many case one application is Suf'i- .
rient. Arscnatc of soda has been used !
very successfully to kill poison ivy on |
trees six to ten inches in diameter
without injury to the trees, as we'll rs
IN stone walls, buildings, and along
fences.