ERADICATION OF FERNS FROM PASTURE LANDS. 



SPRAYING. 



There is no doubt, that salt is the host material for a spray solution 

 against ferns. (Sec fig. 7.) The iron sulphate was ineffective. 

 Arsenite of soda was effective, but its use involved some risk on 

 account of its poisonous character to man and animals; furthermore, 

 it is rather difficult to obtain except in the larger centers. Salt is 

 very effective, is easily obtainable, and probably exerts an aftereffect 

 favorable to grass. It is also relished by live stock, thus contribut- 

 ing to the destruction of ferns treated with it in pastures to which 

 stock have access. 



FIG. 7. Fields in southeastern New York where the experiments in fern eradication were made. In the 

 immediate foreground is the plat sprayed with salt solution, which accomplished the destruction of 

 nearly all the ferns in one season. 



The quantity of salt required to the acre depends, of course, on 

 the thickness of the fern. The smallest amount used in the experi- 

 ments was 600 pounds to the acre, and this was considerably more 

 than was needed, even though the entire surface of the plats, both 

 the fern and the grass, was treated. As the ferns seldom occupy morn 

 than one- third the surface of a pasture, 200 pounds to the acre is 

 usually ample. In these experiments salt was used in almost a satu- 

 rated solution, that is, 1 pound to about 1J quarts of water. If 

 desirable, a more dilute solution could be used. 



