lion roots." In an attempt to throw some light upon the question 

 of the vitality of the dandelion roots French removed the tops from 

 two plants by cutting just below the crown. This was done suc- 

 cessively as soon as new leaves had unfolded for eight times when 

 both plants succumbed to the treatment. French reasoned from 

 these results that if dandelions could withstand six or seven cuttings 

 they could survive as many sprayings, or possibly more, since 

 spraying did not remove the tops as completely as did the cutting. 



THE EXPERIMENT IN 1912. 



Since the experiments of 1909 and 1910 had not met with the 

 success which seemed to be characteristic of the trials with iron 

 sulfate on dandelions conducted elsewhere, it was deemed advisable 

 to give the method a further test. Work was continued this year 

 by laying off a plat 15 feet wide and 100 feet long in an old lawn 

 which was well sodded over with Kentucky blue grass and red 

 top grass, but badly infested with dandelion plants. This lawn 

 was on a clay loam soil and in all particulars typical of the average 

 lawn in this state. 



This strip of lawn was sprayed with iron sulfate seven times 

 during the season and at the rate of approximately 100 gallons per 

 acre, slightly over four gallons of the solution being, used on 1500 

 square feet at each application. The spray solution was applied 

 with a compressed-air sprayer and contained one and one-half pounds 

 of iron sulfate to each gallon of water. The spray was applied 

 at intervals of three weeks for the first three months, or during the 

 vigorous growing season, and approximately once per month -during 

 the remainder of the season. The last spraying was made on Sep- 

 tember 20. The first spraying was made on May 4, at a time when 

 the first blossom heads were opening. After each application of 

 the solution the grass in the sprayed area was badly blackened, 

 and remained unsightly for several days. It was noted, however, 

 that the weather conditions at the time of the application had con- 

 siderable to do with the extent of blackening and the period of time 

 which elapsed before the normal appearance of the lawn was regained. 

 The blackening of the grass was more marked and was retained 

 longer following the sprayings made in the mid-summer months 

 when periods of dry weather prevailed. It was during these periods 

 when the severest injury to the tips of the grass leaves occurred. 



