ARID AGRICULTURE. 251 



a small slender spike on the top, which looks 

 something like rag weed. The leaves have a 

 whitish green appearance. It is probable that 

 the best method of destroying iron weed is deep 

 and continuous cultivation. It usually occurs 

 in comparatively small patches and it is possible 

 that a very strong spray of sulphate of iron or 

 >alt might help destroy it. 



DANDELION The common introduced dandelion is one of 



the worst weeds of the West. In places it takes 

 possession of lawns and will entirely run out any 

 of the lawn grasses. Sometimes it occupies fields 

 and at our high altitudes it seems to compete suc- 

 cessfully with alfalfa. Many attempts have 

 been made to discover some means of competing 

 with the dandelion. For many years writers 

 made the recommendation that the dandelion 

 should be dug out with a chisel or "spud." It 

 has been shown that a dandelion root cut off be- 

 low the crown year after year simply branches 

 and throws out more numerous crowns. If the 

 dandelion is cut off beloAv the crown and some 

 solution like strong brine, kerosene, or sulphate 

 of iron is injected into the hole to kill the root, it 

 may be successfuly killed. Our recommendation 

 for lawns is to plant grass seed so thick, on 

 ground that has been cultivated until it is en- 

 tirely free from weeds, that there will be as little 

 room as possible for the growth of dandelions. 

 Then, if the land can be irrigated by sub-irriga- 



