CHARLOCK, KEDLOCK, KILK, MUSTARD 591 



CRUOIFERiE.— Charlock, Kedlock, Kilk, Wild Mustard 



{Brassica Sinapis Vis. = Sinapis arvensis L.). — The name char- 

 lock is given to a number of different plants, often indiscrimin- 

 ately to all weeds having yellow cruciate flowers similar to those 

 of white mustard ; even the latter plant is sometimes not re- 

 cognised when it appears in another crop, and is promptly 

 named charlock. 



Charlock and its allies are troublesome weeds on light soils, 

 and especially calcareous loams. Though an annual like poppy 

 its eradication is very difficult if once allowed to seed, which 

 happens on overcropped land, the proper cleaning of which is 

 neglected. 



If the ground is seeded with it, harrow and roll when dry to 

 pulverise the soil and thus encourage it to germinate. When an 

 inch or two high the plants may be hoed up and the ground 

 prepared for a second crop, which should be treated in the same 

 manner. 



Numbers of young plants are destroyed by the constant use of 

 harrows and hoes, and the growth of crops, such as roots and 

 potatoes, which allows the ground to be cleaned for a longer 

 period than' when corn crops are grown, is to be specially 

 considered. 



The weed should never be allowed to seed in corn crops, but 

 should be pulled up by hand before the seed ripens, as if left till the 

 corn is cut much of it is shed and the ground thus kept supplied 

 with the pest. Cutting or puUing off the flowers by hand or 

 machinery when they are seen above the young crop is not an 

 effective method of destruction, since many of the lower branches 

 of the inflorescences are often missed and these produce suf- 

 ficient seed to keep the weed on the farm. 



Spraying with a 2 per cent, solution of copper sulphate, or a 

 l\ per cent, of ferrous sulphate, is said to destroy charlock 

 among young cereal crops without injuring the latter. The spray 

 should be applied at the rate of 30 or 40 gallons per acre in 



