1909] Summary of Agricultural Experiments 761 



Use of Calcium Cyanamide as a Remedy for Charlock. — Reference 

 has been made in previous numbers of this Journal (December, 1907, 

 p. 568 ; January, 1909, p. 776) to the use of calcium cyanamide as a 

 means of eradicating charlock. The " Praktische Blatter fur Pfian- 

 zenbau und Pflanzenschutz " (August, 1909) mentions an experiment 

 conducted at Altenmarkt in which two plots under oats were treated with 

 a top dressing of calcium cyanamide on 8th May, 1909. Observations 

 taken on the 12 th June showed that very little charlock was left on the 

 manured plots, as compared with those unmanured, while the charlock 

 on the unmanured plots was much stronger. A few days after manuring 

 the charlock had a burnt appearance, but the clover underneath, and 

 peas which were sown among the oats were not injured. The manured 

 oats showed a rich green colour. 



Destruction of Charlock. — Numerous experiments have been made 

 in Great Britain on the destruction of charlock (Sinapis arvensis, L.) 

 by means of solutions of the sulphates of copper and iron. These have 

 been found effective in killing the weed in the young stage, and the 

 Board have issued a Leaflet (No. 63) in which the treatment is described. 



At a recent meeting of the Societe Nationals d f Agriculture, M. Hitier 

 suggested that, on small holdings, where only a few acres have to be 

 treated, the trouble and expense of carting water and of preparing and 

 applying the solution may be obviated by the use of sulphate of iron 

 in the form of a fine powder, broadcasted by hand or by a machine 

 very early in the morning (say 3 to 6 a.m.) when the dew is on the 

 leaf. This had been found effectively to destroy charlock. 



Last year M. Hitier himself treated oats in this way, the charlock 

 which it was desired to destroy being exceptionally abundant and near 

 the flowering stage. It was, however, completely destroyed. The 

 amount of sulphate of iron used was 3 to 4 cwt. per acre. At the 

 price paid for it, 35. 3d. to 35. gd. per cwt., the treatment is no more 

 economical than treatment with solutions of sulphate and nitrate of 

 copper, but it is held to be much more practical for the small holder, and 

 even, perhaps, for the large farmer. — (Bull, des Seances Soc. Nat. 

 d'Agric, 1909, No. 5.) 



The Asparagus Beetle. — Asparagus is occasionally much damaged 

 by the Asparagus Beetle (Crioceris asparagi), an account of which is 

 given in the Board's Leaflet No. 47. As one of the remedial measures, 

 it is stated that the asparagus may be sprayed with arsenate of lead, 

 made by dissolving 1 oz. pure arsenate of soda in a little water, dissolving 

 3 oz. acetate of lead, also in a little water, and pouring both into 10 or 

 12 gallons of soft water, finally stirring in 1 lb. of treacle. 



In this connection it may be remarked that an experiment is 

 reported by Dr. F. H. Chittenden, of the Bureau of Entomology, U.S. 

 Dept. of x\gric. (Bull. No. 66, Part vii.), which shows that arsenate of 

 lead may be used with complete success against the Asparagus Beetle. 

 In one case the first application, made with a compressed-air sprayer, 

 consisted of 1 lb. arsenate of lead to 20 gallons of water, and the second 

 application, made a week later, of 1 lb. arsenate of lead to 15 gallons 

 of water. The first application destroyed most of the insects, but a 

 considerable number developed after a few days, and these appeared 

 to be killed by the second spraying. Neither application seemed to 

 injure the asparagus in the least, though the liquid adhered in fine 



