ERADICATING TALL LARKSPUR ON CATTLE RANGES. 



TIME OF GRUBBING. 



19 



The best time to grub out tall larkspur is early in the season, as 

 soon as the plants have made sufficient growth to be recognized 

 readily. 1 This time varies somewhat in different localities and with 

 altitude. On most areas the larkspur is large enough to be readily 

 recognized one week after growth has started. 





DISPOSAL OF GRUBBED PLANTS. 



Probably the best way to dispose of grubbed plants is to scatter 

 them, after shaking most of the dirt from their roots. After being 

 exposed to the sun for one week, the scattered plants dry out so com- 

 pletely that stock will not eat them. It is not a good plan to pile 

 the grubbed plants with the idea of burning them when they dry out. 

 The plants not directly exposed to the sun do not dry out within a 

 reasonable time and are likely to start new growth. This was found 

 to be the case on the Stanislaus National Forest in 1913, even when 

 care was taken to place the roots as far as possible on the outside 

 of the piles. Moreover, to grub the plants and pile them requires 

 one-third more time than to grub and scatter them. 



REVEGETATION OF GRUBBED AREAS. 



Larkspur usually grows in soils adapted to other range plants; for 

 that reason the grubbed areas are soon normally revegetated by the 

 associated native species. Comparison of the experimental areas 

 established on the Stanislaus National Forest in 1913 with similar 

 situations where the larkspur had not been disturbed, showed that 

 the native vegetation had replaced the larkspur in two years. The 



1 Tall larkspur makes a thrifty, vigorous growth from the time It starts until it 

 reaches its maximum height, which in some plants is 6 feet. Observations made in 1915 

 on two average-sized plants of larkspur (Delphinium glaucum) on the Stanislaus Na- 

 tional Forest, in east central California, showed the following growth : 



These plants were growing on an open weed area in a moist, sandy loam soil, at an 

 altitude of 7,800 feet. They started growth about July 4 ; flower buds were first 

 noticed July 29, and flowers were produced August 10. It is estimated that the seed 

 would have been disseminated about September 1. 



When the larkspur plants start growth they seldom have more than two or three 

 stalks, but as they mature the number increases, the new stalks coming from near the 

 top of the crown. Sixty stalks was the maximum number found on any one plant. The 

 number varied greatly, depending upon the age and vigor of the plant. 



