100 



sheep have been turned in, it has practically disappeared. " I scatter salt on the 

 areas covered by the weed," said Mr. Mitchell, " and the sheep eat the spots clear." 



From a man of Mr. Mitchell's standing as a farmer, this experiment of his is 

 worthy of much consideration, and if subsequent trials bear this one out, a practi- 

 cable remedy for the Paint Brush situation in meadows is available. 



Couch Grass and daisy are also bad weeds in this locality. 



A trip was made along the Magog River, along both sides, to the southwest 

 of the city of Sherbrooke, as far as Forest Rock. On the east side there is much 

 Paint Brush, but apparently little effort is being made to subdue it. Nearly every 

 hay field is more or less infested, and we saw an oat field with the weed very much 

 in. evidence. 



Three factors stand out prominently as having an important bearing on the 

 Paint Brush situation : — 



(1) The fact that this weed spreads by means of winged seeds that are carried 

 by the wind to adjacent fields. 



(2) The fact that the great majority of the farmers do not give their land 

 sufficient cultivation. When sod is broken up, it is plowed but once in late summer 

 or autumn. Then it is too frequently sowed to oats the next spring without any 

 further attempt at cleaning the land. 



(3) The fact that land is kept in hay for a long period of years, with the result 

 that the weed has an opportunity of spreading by its underground runners, and 

 getting full possession of the fields. 



In Missisquoi County 



The good farmers along the Cowansville-Dunham road are not afraid of Paint 

 Brush in land that can be cultivated. Mr. Charles Ruiter, owner of the Pinehurst 

 Jersey Stock Farm, said, on being interviewed : " We have no trouble with Paint 

 Brush. It is not nearly so hard a weed to eradicate as Quack grass or Sow thistle. 

 To eradicate Paint Brush it is necessary to cultivate the land thoroughly — one 

 plowing is not sufficient — and to manure it well. If corn or hoed crops follow there 

 will be no fear of trouble from this weed. The lack of labor, it should be empha- 

 sized, is a great drawback to clean farming. For example, this year it was utterly 

 impossible for me to cultivate my root crops on account of lack of help, so I shall 

 lose my root crop on that account." 



