The Nespelem tribune. [volume] (Nespelem, Wash.) 1934-1936, 1935-07-10
Program Planned
For Fighting Weeds
Best Solutions And Methods Elk
planned By County
Agent

Agent
Millions of dollars of losses are
experienced by farmers annually
through the ravages of noxious
weeds, according to Vernon Chap
man, county agricultural agent.
While Okanogan county farms do
not suffer as great losses as many
other areas, the condition here is
becoming worse from year to year,
he declares. Chief among the weed
pests found in on ochards and
fields are White Top, Russian KNAPP
weed, quack grass, bin weed or
Morning Glory, and Canadian
thistle
Efforts toward the control Of
these weeds have been made by
many in the past through cultiva-
ton and the use of chemicals. The
following report of chemical treat
ments last year will be of interest
to many.
Only scattered patches of White
Top were treated with calcium
chlorate, at the rate of five pounds
per square rod, but the results were
very positive and this amount Of
chemical properly applied will ap-
parently control the weed, Mr..
Chapman states. Calcium chlorate,
used at a rate of four pounds per
square rod, successfully controlled
a heavy growth of Russian KNAPP
weed and only a few weak, scatter
ed plants came up this spring, in
dicating that this amount of chem
ical is sufficient to control KNAPP
weed under average conditions.
Should Watch Method
Sodium chlorate, applied at three
pounds per square rod on Canadian
thistle and quack grass, gave very
spotted results probably due to the
method of application rather than
any other cause. Spots where it was
thoroughly applied and all foliage
wet with the chemical solution are
entirely barren of weeds this year,
but there are spots throughout the
entire area which showed no injury
through the treatment.
The best results were obtained
where the treatment was delayed
until fall. In one case of knapweed
it was delayed until after apple
harvest. 1t is impossible to state at
this time whether or not these weeds
can be successfully controlled in
orchards without tree injury because
the work last year was done largely
to determine the quantity of chem
ical necessary under conditions here
to control the weeds. Work will be
done in 1885 which will demonstrate
any value these chemicals may have
in weed control in the orchards.
Use ChlOrate Solutions
The use of sodium chlorate and
calcium chlorate in. weed control
has been demonstrated by num-
Der of farmers and orchardiStS in
this county, according to Mr.. Chap
man.
These chemicals come as a pow
der, which is dissolved in water and
applied as a spray to the weeds. It
works on the reverse principle Of
a lamp wick in that when sprayed
on the tops of plants it works down.
ward into the roots, killing the en-
tire plant growth. 1t is most sue
cessful when applied after plants
have reached full maturity or even
late in the fall about the time of
the first killing frosts, Mr.. Chap
man said.
For the control of .quack grass and
Canadian thistle evidence indicates
that two and one-half pounds of
sodium chlorate or three pounds of
calcium chlorate per square rod as a
spray will kill all plant growth. Rus
sian knapweed requires at least
three pounds of sodium chlorate or
four pounds of calcium chlorate for
the same results. White Top, which
IS one Of the most difficult weeds to
control, requires about five pounds
Of calcium chlorate or about four
pounds of sodium chlorate. Bond
weed requires about the same
amount as quack grass.
Spray Used In Orchards \
"Fair results have been obtained
on willows and poison oak in Or
chards and along bitches through
applying the chemical in a concen-
for continued timber pay rolls when
the old stands are exhausted"