USE OF EXPLOSIVES AND THE BLOW-LAMP IN THE GARDEN. 17 



when disturbed, might also be attacked by this means. In such 

 chases by night, a good Hght, such as that of an acetylene bicycle 

 lamp, is a great aid. 



For the destruction of weeds in a rapid and effectual manner, 

 they should be attacked whilst in seed-leaf, or at any rate, whilst 

 still quite small. At such time, the very slight scorching entailed by a 

 rapid passage of the flame is sufficient to determine their destruc- 

 tion. When, however, they have grown large and the root system is 

 well estabhshed, they are more suitable for eradication by old-fangled 

 methods ; still even then with the aid of a hooked and pointed 

 iron rod their roots, which are very sensitive to the flame, may 

 be put hoYS de combat. Again, when they are in the seeding state, 

 the lamp may be effectively employed to prevent the seeds from 

 spreading, at a time when the ordinary hoeing and raking beget 

 a somewhat Sisyphus-like employment. There are also situations 

 where it is inexpedient or too risky to employ weed-killer, and here 

 again the lamp may be useful. 



Hitherto I have chiefly used the small one-pint size " Aetna," 

 which gives a flame about 9 inches long and burns for about an hour, 

 in which time a considerable amount of ground may be treated. For 

 working amongst young growing crops, a small lamp of this descrip- 

 tion is good, for one can work fairly close without risk of damage. 

 Where there is plenty of room, a larger and more powerful lamp 

 may be employed.* Thus, last October, I borrowed a full-sized brazing 

 lamp from a plumber, and, for an experiment, had my front drive 

 treated with it to see how long the green algal growth would be kept 

 in abeyance. Now, mid-February, the green is just beginning to 

 reappear in places, but a few scattered grass seedlings have not 

 reappeared. 



The best and most rapid work is done when the ground is fairly 

 dry, and the day is calm. Naturally, seeds on the surface which 

 are about to germinate are Hable to suffer the fate of the visible seed- 

 Hngs. Some six years ago, in order to get an idea of the working 

 effect of the lamp, I treated the alleys between rows of raspberries 

 in a very weedy garden. One alley was left untreated, a second 

 was lamped once, a third twice and the fourth thrice, with intervals 

 of a week or ten days between the lampings. The untreated row 

 became a veritable jungle of weeds ; the once-lamped alley showed 

 a good many weeds, but with void spaces ; the twice-lamped alley 

 only produced about a dozen or so scattered weeds, whilst the thrice- 

 treated one was clear, except for a couple of groundsel plants close 

 to the canes, in the whole ten-yard length. 



With the ordinary hoeing, unless a spell of dry weather occurs, 

 a considerable proportion of the disturbed seedlings are apt to take 

 root again, when again the hoe must be brought forth. With the 



* The lamp exhibited at the lecture was a No. 5 " Tarantella," burning 

 paraffin and giving a 14 in. flame r on trial it seems to be a suitable and 

 powerful lamp. 



VOL. XL. c 



