572 



The Destruction of Bracken. [oct., 



bruised and beaten down with sticks in June, October, and 

 November, 1909. In 1910 the operation was repeated in June, 

 and the result has been a very considerable decrease in the 

 bracken. 



It is considered by some authorities that one of the simplest 

 methods of eradicating bracken consists in running chain 

 harrows, or heavy beam and bush harrows, over the ground 

 when the growth is young and tender, and repeating the 

 operation as often as new growth attains a few inches 

 in height. Beating down with sticks is perhaps equally 

 effective, but takes longer, and is hence more ex- 

 pensive. 



Effect of Liming. — An important factor in the successful 

 growth of bracken is the absence or comparative absence of 

 lime, and it has been found that where bracken is plentiful 

 an application of lime results in its suppression. Liming 

 at the rate of 10 to 40 cwt. per acre might usefully accompany 

 regular cutting, the result to be expected within three to five 

 years being the eradication of the bracken and its gradual 

 replacement with excellent herbage. 



Bracken does not commonly encroach on land which is 

 regularly cultivated, and putting land covered with bracken 

 under the plough and deeply breaking it up may usually be 

 considered a certain means of eradication. 



Influence of Stock. — A note which appeared in. this Journal 

 in February, 1909, page 844, referred to the influence of cattle 

 on the eradication of bracken, and it would appear that close I 

 grazing with cattle tends to reduce the pest, the animals 

 not only eating much of it when young, but trampling it 

 down. Where cattle have been replaced with sheep a con- 

 siderable increase in bracken has been noted. Cases to the 

 contrary, however, have also been quoted, in which cattle 

 have had no appreciable effect on the bracken. 



In the course of their investigations the Committee of 

 Inquiry on Grouse Disease noticed that bracken very seldom 

 grows on crofter "soumings" where there are many ponies, 

 and they observe that while they do not feel that they have 

 enough evidence on the subject to claim that this is a solution, 

 they mention the fact as one which may be worth further 

 inquiry and experiment. 



It has been stated that where it has been possible to prac- 



