270 EXPERIMENTAL FARMS 



2 GEORGE V., A. 1912 



and bushy, or often climbing or trailing'. The leaves are all composed of three ovate, 

 coarsely-toothed leaflet-, and serve well as a means of identification. There are no 

 <tber plants of similar habit in Canada with leaves which would easily be confused 

 •with them. The Virginian Creeper (Fig. 2 D) is often held in suspicion, quite need- 

 - -ly though, as it has five, not three, leaflet-, which spread from one point like the 

 lingers of the hand. The poison ivy can also be known when in fruit, by its upright 

 auxiliary panicles of whitish berries of about the size of peas. 



Measures of eradication must be directed toward the uprooting of the plants, a= 

 otherwise any effort to kill them would have to be repeated and continued as long as 

 the roots retain enough vitality to send up new vegetation. It may be advisable to 

 mow off and remove the stems. before starting to grub up the roots, so as to lessen 

 the danger of poisoning while at work. The tops may be got rid of also by spraying 

 with a mixture of one-half pint commercial sulphuric acid in one gallon of water. 

 As sulphuric acid is corrosive, it will be advisable to apply with a sprinkling can or an 

 old sprayer which can be sacrificed to the purpose. Obviously too, any work among 

 poison ivy should be done by a person who knows that he is not sensitive to the poison. 

 Every possible effort should be made to remove this nuisance from places frequented 

 by children and others. 



It will he desirable to add a word as to the treatment to be given in cases of ivy 

 poisoning. Washing with water alone will not remove the oil, though vigorously 

 scrubbing the parts with soap and water and a brush will help. The most effective 

 treatment is to scrub thoroughly and repeatedly with an alcoholic solution of lead 

 acetate. This brings the oil into combination with the lead so that it can be washed 

 off readily by the alcohol. This remedy should be applied early, as the skin when once 

 inflamed can only be left to heal in the natural course. 



Aside from one closely-related plant, the poison sumach, (Rhus Vernix), of 

 swamps in western Ontario, we have no other plants which are capable of producing 

 ihe severe skin poisoning of poison ivy. The stinging nettles (JJrtica dioica and U. 

 urens) and the wood nettle (Laportea canadensis) can set up painful smarting of the 

 skin by the contact of their stinging hairs, but their effects are soon over. 



Note. — Mr. Groh in a letter received after this report was in type states: "I have 

 recently had an interesting confirmation of my observation that cattle will eat Poison 

 Ivy. The same patch referred to was again pastured down this year and I watched 

 one of our cows last week as she munched the plants off apparently with considerable 

 relish. She has shown no evidence of any resulting inflammation or irritation what- 

 ever.' 



