42 MINNESOTA BULLETIN 176 



about readily, thus reinfesting lawns that have been cleaned. The 

 surest remedy against dandelions in the lawn is a rich soil frequently 

 top-dressed with well-rotted manure or a nitrate of soda fertilizer. 

 Such a soil thickly seeded to a mixture of Kentucky bluegrass, redtop 

 and white clover will grow a thick turf that will be troubled but little 

 by dandelions. 



If a lawn is only thinly infested, spudding or digging out with a 

 knife is often resorted to. Where badly infested, persistent spraying 

 with sulphate of iron will hold them in check, altho it seldom results in 

 complete eradication because the dandelion lias become so universally 

 established as to be quickly reseeded. 



In spraying with iron sulphate it is best to make the application 

 two or three days after the lawn has been cut. Spray on bright sunny 

 days just after rather than just before a rain. A heavy rain will 

 wash off the sulphate before the leaves are affected. Spraying at in- 

 tervals of three or four weeks through an entire season is necessary 

 to kill all of the dandelions. The solution for spraying should be 

 composed of 1^2 pounds of iron sulphate to 1 gallon of water. A com- 

 pressed-air pump with a nozzle that will throw a fine spray is best. 

 It should be tight enough not to leak. The solution will discolor cloth- 

 ing and cement work, so care must be used in applying it. 



