492 Bulletin 2§o. 



of this weed in a pasture two years ago. The pasture is browsed closely 

 and the blossoms usually eaten by cattle, so that few if any seeds mature. 

 The plants have spread until now they cover two or three square rods. 



Paint brush is a very shallow rooted plant. For this reason it is 

 comparatively easy of control if the land is plowed. As it will endure 

 hardship, the land must be cultivated in order to kill out the individuals 

 which survive plowing. 



Several methods of controlling the weed in pastures have been tried 

 with varying success. No doubt salt will kill it if applied in sufficient 

 quantities. Three thousand pounds per acre are recommended. This 

 is at the rate of about 20 pounds per square rod. This method might 

 be satisfactory on small areas. No more than the amount above sug- 

 gested should ever be used as it is an easy matter to apply so much 

 that useful plants will be destroyed. If the weed has appeared in large 

 areas, as in many places of southern New York on the hill lands, salting 

 can hardly be advised. If applied at this rate on some of the cheapest 

 lands the cost of the salt and application would amount to nearly as 

 much as the land is worth. Moreover, salting is only a temporary 

 relief. The weed will reappear in a few seasons. A much better way 

 is to use manure or fertilizer so as to grow grass. 



Where the weed is just beginning to appear in pastures and meadows, 

 it is possible to keep it under control by using the hoe to cut off the 

 plants. It would doubtless be a good plan to apply some stable manure 

 to such areas along with some more grass and clover seeds. 



It rarely appears to any serious extent on clay loam, but is more 

 common on light soils, especially those which slope to the south. It 

 never gains a foothold on soils which are in condition to grow good 

 timothy hay. 



A number of farmers have controlled paint brush by rotating crops. 

 Among these is Mr. Earl Flanders, a young farmer near Rodman. The 

 pest appeared in that neighborhood about fifteen years ago. Mr. 

 Flanders controls it by rotating his pastures. The pasture is plowed 

 after a dressing of manure. Corn is grown, then a crop of oats and one 

 crop of hay is secured. The field is then turned into a pasture for two 

 or three years and the operation repeated. Alsike clover and timothy 

 are used in seeding. Doubtless a pound or two of white clover per acre 

 would materially improve the pasture. 



This last named method of control is the best means yet discovered 

 for controlling the weed in situations where the land is plowable and 

 Avhere the pest is inclined to become serious. Large areas in northern 

 New York have been observed which are almost abandoned to paint 



