12 



nature of the land and the kind of farming in vogue on the Pacific 

 coast there are several methods that can probably be used to advan- 

 tage in that region that can not be employed in the East. 



SUMMARY. 



Two kinds of ferns have become serious weed pests in the United 

 States, namely, the hay-scented fern and the brake. The two species 

 are troublesome in the hill country of the Northeastern States and 

 in the higher mountain country of the States farther south. On the 

 Pacific coast the brake is the principal weedy fern. 



This bulletin deals with the fern problem of the Eastern States!; 

 Although the experiments here recorded were made with the liav- 

 scented fern, there is no doubt that the treatment found most effectiv 

 with that species would apply equally well to the brake. Both kiiK 

 are perennials, with running rootstocks which lie more or less parall< 

 to the soil surface. 



In most parts of the East where the ferns are weeds the land is s 

 steep and rocky that cultivation is not practicable. It has bee 

 found that cutting off the tops close to the soil surface twice a ye; 

 for two years will kill out nearly all of the ferns. The best times to d 

 the cutting are just previous to sporing, or about the middle of Jun 

 and the middle of August in southern New York. 



Experiments were made in 1912 and 1913 to test the effieacv 

 spraying as compared with cutting and to learn the best method 

 obtaining a stand of grass and clover on the fern-infested areas 

 The spray materials used were solutions of salt, arsenite of soda, an 

 iron sulphate. These materials were used in quantities of equal value 



The results of these tests showed the following facts: Salt is tli 

 best spray material of the three. With ferns at an average degrt 

 of thickness on the land, 150 pounds of salt dissolved in 60 gallon 

 or more of water to the acre for each application are sufficient. T\\ 

 sprayings a year are about as effective as four, and are to be recom 

 mended. Cutting is somewhat cheaper than spraying. Further 

 more, the cutting does not interfere with young clover and gn 

 coming in on the infested patches after the first treatment. Tl 

 method, therefore, is to be recommended in preference to spray in 

 in most situations. In some places the land is so stony as to inter- 

 fere with cutting, in which case spraying may be the best metho< 

 It was found that scattering seed on the patches where ferns ha 

 grown was the most important means of getting a stand of grass an 

 clover, and that liming and fertilizing in addition to the seeding wei 

 of considerable benefit. 



WASHINGTON : (ioVKHN.MKNT 1'KlNTiyi: 



