GRAMINEOUS CROPS. 93 



the author showed that all the plants under investigation 

 died when they had absorbed iron salts to thei extent of 

 yielding 10 per cent, of iron oxide after incineration. 

 Hence the reason the mosses were destroyed (by the iron 

 sulphate), being plants naturally requiring a larger amount 

 of moisture than the grasses. 



The above results have been confirmed by Professors 

 Lambin, Bernard, Quantin, Joulie, Gaillot, Neron, De- 

 lacharlonny, Tord, Jaubert, and others in France,! as well 

 as by several well-known agriculturists in this country. 

 Professor Lambin says : " Les resultats observes k Sois- 

 sons confirment ceux obtenus par M. Griffiths. Ces re- 

 sultats repondent en meme temps aux craintes manifestees 

 sur I'emploi du sulfate de fer en agriculture. Non seule-_ 

 ment sous Taction d'une dose de 250 k, 300 kilogrammes 

 par hectare les plantes n'ont pas souffert, mais elles out 

 largement prospere, le rendement de la prairie ayant ete 

 presque double." Mr. Macqueen, home farmer to the 

 Earl of Powis, considers iron sulphate " an excellent 

 manure for mossy pastures." 



The quantity of iron sulphate to be applied for eradi- 

 cating moss, is from 1| to 2 cwts. per acre. The powdered 

 sulphate should be mixed with two to ten times its weight 

 of sand or dry soil, and distributed by hand, manure dis- 

 tributor, or better still by means of the Strawsonizer. 

 The sulphate may also be applied by means of a water- 

 cart.^ Farmers would do well to purchase the iron sul- 



» See Journal de V Agriculture, September, 1887, October, 1888 ; 

 Bulletin de la Societe d'Hm-ticulture de Soissons, 1887 ; Bull. Soc. des 

 Agriculteurs de France, 1888 ; also Manures and their Uses, p. 132, 

 and A Treatise on Manures, p. 275. 



2 Dissolve eith'er of the above quantities of iron sulphate (green 

 vitriol) in 40 gallons of water. 



