ERADICATION OF FERNS FROM PASTURE 



pasture with an average quantity of fern, one man with a scythe can 

 cover about 2J acres in a day. The leafstalks are tender and are 

 easily cut with a scythe. 



The writer has found a number of farmers in the mountain-pasture 

 district of North Carolina who have successfully used this method of 

 eradicating ferns. The plan seems to be generally accepted as the 

 best in that region. 



Burning after cutting. Mr. Thomson has found that burning over 

 the fern patches after cutting serves as a further check to the pest. 



FIG. 4. A field infested with brakes, near Tacoma, Wash. 



After the mowed fern leaves have become dry, fire is started on the 

 windward side of the patch. Not all patches will burn completely, 

 a;s there are varying quantities of combustible material in the areas. 

 Where a fierce fire has passed over a patch the fern rootstocks are 

 undoubtedly injured to a considerable extent. 



SALTING LIVE STOCK IN FERN PATCHES. 



Where ferns occupy very small areas on a farm certain methods 

 may be used that would not be economical on a thickly infested piece, 

 of land . One of these methods is salting live stock in t ho fern patches. 

 Dry salt is scattered on the plants when they arc moist with rain or 



