UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE 
In Cooperation with the 
University of Wisconsin and the Wisconsin Department 
of Agriculture 
DEPARTMENT BULLETIN No. 1451 
Washington, D. C. ▼ December, 1926 
METHODS OF ERADICATING THE COMMON BARBERRY (BERBERIS 
VULGARIS L.) 
By Noel F. Thompson, Associate Pathologist, Office of Cereal Crops and Dis- 
eases, Bureau of Plant Industry, and W. W. Bobbins, Associate Professor of 
Botany, University of California, Collaborator, and formerly Botanist, Office 
of Cereal Crops and Diseases, Bureau of Plant Industry 
CONTENTS 
Page 
Introduction 1 
The common barberry plant 2 
Mechanical methods of eradication — 5 
Cost of digging barberries 8 
Destruction of sprouts 9 
Chemical methods of eradication 10 
Requirements for a satisfactory 
chemical 11 
Pago 
Chemical methods of eradication — 
Continued. 
Extent and location of experi- 
ments 12 
Chemicals used 13 
Summary of chemicals studied 41 
General summary 43 
Literature cited 45 
INTRODUCTION 
The common barberry (Berberis vulgaris L.) has been very exten- 
sively planted in the United States. It is not native to America but 
was introduced mainly from Europe. Lind (9) 1 adduces consider- 
able evidence that the bush came originally from the middle and 
western Asiatic mountains and still is found growing wild in the 
Himalayas. He states that the plant is mentioned in Hindu and 
Babylonian writings as early as 650 B. C. It apparently was intro- 
duced into Europe about the seventh century by the Arabians after 
having been planted in Egypt and the Barbary States. It is possible 
that the name of the bush was derived from that of the latter country. 
In Europe the barberry was extensively planted because of its 
medicinal properties. Later it came into use as a hedge plant, partly, 
no doubt, because of its sharp, persistent thorns. The juice of the 
berries has also found favor for making beverages and jellies. 
The barberry evidently was brought to America by some of the 
very early settlers and was planted extensively in the New England 
States. Many later importations have been made, and because of 
the activity of nurserymen as well as of settlers in different parts of 
1 Serial numbers in italic in parentheses refer to " Literature cited," page 45. 
4197—26 1 1 
