Removing Growth from Fire Lanes 271 



sible the introduction of one of the evergreen covers is a liberal 

 application of lime. 



All growth on the rock salt plot was killed within a week, and 

 to this day — almost two years — not a wisp of anything green can 

 be found there. Forty pounds of the crushed salt were applied 

 to an area of about 300 square feet. The experiments should be 

 continued until the minimum amount of salt which will produce 

 these results is found. 



In 1915, the experiments were continued, but were modified, 

 in that the result striven for was the complete removal of all 

 growth present. For this purpose a spot was chosen on which 

 was found the greatest diversity of species which it is desirable 

 to remove from fire lanes, such as bracken, sweet fern, huckle- 

 berry bushes, grass, weeds, and hardwood and scrub oak sprouts. 

 All brush was cut to the ground, and the areas treated were 

 mowed as closely as possible and raked, so that solutions might 

 penetrate to the roots. 



The following materials were applied to the plots thus prepared 

 o:i the morning of July 6, a cool, clear, windy day, immediately 

 following a rainy period of several days. 



14 oz. sodium hydroxide in 1 gal. water to 50 sq. ft 



<^ll 11 11 llTll It 111 QQ 11 



3 qts. granular salt in 3 gals, water " 72 " 



3 " sulphuric acid in 3 qts. water " 45 " 



•3 It 11 11 41 fl 11 11 tl '7^ 11 



^11 11 11 It fi It t< tt on ** 



1 gal. kerosene " 60 " 



1 " gasoline " 60 " 



1 " "Mount Vernon Weed Killer" in 25 gals, water " 375 " 



All growth was killed in less than a week on every plot except 

 the one treated with kerosene. Every plot, however, was again 

 covered with a growth of bracken, sweet fern, and grass before 

 the growing season was over, except the one treated with weed 

 killer. On this plot all growth is dead now, but it is suspected 

 that new growth will appear this spring. 



Numerous cases are on record of damage done to crops by 

 the oil from burst mains escaping over fields. In at least one case, 

 damages were awarded on the basis that the fertility of the soil 

 was permanently destroyed. If this be true, crude oil will solve 

 the problem, and should be given a fair trial. Also, there are 

 several by-products of the distillation of petroleum which may do 

 the work as well, and which are much cheaper than crude oil. 



