I 
50 -> PARK AND CEMETERY. 
TWO WAYS OF FIGHTING THE DANDELION 
Killing With Copperas Spray 
R. W. Fisher, horticulturist of the 
Montana Agricultural Experiment Sta- 
tion, Bozeman, Mont., reports that dan- 
delions can be kept in check and in 
time exterminated by systematic and 
intelligent use of iron sulphate, and the 
North Dakota Experiment Station in 
their Bulletin No. 80 give the results 
of experiments for controlling weeds. 
Mr. Fisher, in a circular letter which 
he publishes for residents of Montana, 
says : 
“Iron sulphate or copperas as a spray 
solution for the eradication of dande- 
lions has been tested by several exper- 
iment stations in the United States with 
more or less success. When the spray 
solution is properly made and applied 
the dandelions can be killed without in- 
jury to blue grass or white clover, ex- 
cept that the leaves of the white clover 
may be spotted a little by the iron sul- 
phate solution, rarely enough, however, 
to disfigure a lawn. By keeping the 
lawn closely cut and well watered the 
clover and blue grass will rapidly re- 
cover from any injury which might re- 
sult from the -spraying. 
"An automatic spray pump, of which 
there are several makes, will give the 
best results. A pump manufactured by 
Brandt Bros., Chisago City, Minn., has 
been found very convenient in experi- 
ments made at this station, and is well 
adapted to lawn spraying. The nozzle 
should be such that a fine mist can be 
made, because if large drops of the 
spray solution fall on the leaves they 
will run off and no injury to the dande- 
lion leaves will result. When spraying 
with an automatic spray or hand pump 
high pressure should be kept at all 
times, as only then will a fine spray 
mist be thrown. 
“Spraying should be done on a day 
when the wind is not blowing, when the 
grass is dry and can be kept dry for 
12 or 24 hours after spraying. The 
lawn should be well watered several 
hours before the solution is applied — 
long enough in advance to permit the 
grass leaves to dry and still have the 
roots in soil moist enough so the lawn 
can go a day or two without water, in 
order to give the spray solution a 
chance to do its work. If water is ap- 
plied too soon after spraying, the iron 
sulphate will be washed off and no re- 
.^ults will follow. 
“Spraying should be done about every 
six weeks, or whenever the dandelion 
leaves show a green color and by keep- 
ing the leaves killed by spraying with 
iron sulphate whenever they start to 
grow, the roots can be entirely killed, 
as it is impossible for the roots to live 
more than one season without, green, 
leaves. Sprayings made at the Exper- 
iment Station with the iron sulphate so- 
'lution resulted in killing all the leaves 
on dandelions, without injury to blue 
grass and with only a few spots on 
white clover, which in no way disfigure 
the lawn. Where the dandelions are 
thick the lawn will look bad for a few 
days after spraying, because of dead 
leaves on the dandelion plants. The 
spaces where the dandelions are killed 
out should be seeded at once with blue 
grass seed in order to fill up vacant 
spaces and thus prevent as far as pos- 
sible seeds from dandelions germinat- 
ing. The iron sulphate or copperas, as 
it is commonly known, can be purchased 
for a few cents a pound in quantity 
and is used at the rate of ly^ to 2 
pounds per one gallon of water. The 
solution should be applied soon after 
the iron sulphate is dissolved, as there 
is a chemical reaction which takes place 
soon after it is dissolved and if left 
standing too long it lessens its power 
to kill the dandelions. The iron sul- 
phate solution is not poisonous to han- 
dle, but will discolor iron, stone and 
clothing and reasonable care should, 
therefore, be taken in applying it about 
houses where there are iron fences and 
stone foundations and walks. 
“If each city in the state would start 
a force of men spraying vacant lots and 
roadsides and each person owning a 
lawn would properly spray his own lawn 
the dandelion pest which has given so 
much trouble in the past could within 
one or two seasons be almost stamped 
Qut in our cities. 
“If the following instructions are fol- 
lowed out, good results will come; 
“Procure a good spray pump, one 
that holds about three gallons and can 
be carried while spraying. 
“Spray when the leaves are dry and 
can be kept dry for several hours after 
spraying. 
“Spray with a fine mist, which can 
be done only with a good nozzle under 
high pressure. 
“Use iron sulphate at the rate of 1^2 
to 2 pounds per gallon. 
“Do not let the solution stand more 
than 3 or 4 hours after mixing. 
“Strain the solution through a fine 
sieve or cloth into the spray can so 
that no material will get into the pump 
to clog it up. ■ *-' 
“Spray about every six weeks, or 
whenever the dandelions start into 
growth. 
“Keep the lawn grass well watered, so 
so that the grass can overcome by vig- 
orous growth any damage resulting 
from the spray solution. 
“Do not spray more than is neces- 
sary to kill the dandelions.” 
Further information in regard to lawn 
spraying can be secured by writing the 
Horticultural Department of the Ex- 
periment Station at Bozeman. 
Ostracising the Dandelion 
Editor Park and Cemetery ; I 
recently noticed your notes on the 
Dandelion, given in your May num- 
ber, in reply to a Kansas superintend- 
ent’s inquiry. If not too late please 
afford me space enough to declare that 
the dandelion is not a pest. He is 
simply defending nature against the 
vicious customs lately developed in 
tantalizing or devitalizing the grass, 
customs as abnormal as clipping 
horses, high heeled shoes and tight 
lacing, standup collars, etc. 
Nature is always ready to replace 
a failure. Thus it is the decline of 
the grass that induces the dandelion 
to take possession, he being equipped 
by nature to endure the ordeal which 
the grass cannot. 
Perhaps no question is put to the 
professional gardener oftener than 
“What can I do to keep the dande- 
lions out of my lawn?” unless it is 
“What can I do for the dandelions 
on my lawn.” The last one is easily 
answered by saying, “They appear to 
be doing well, just continue your 
present process and the crop will con- 
tinue to thrive.” To the first question 
I answer, presuming that grass is de- 
sired: “Cultivate grass only and the 
dandelion will understand he is not 
welcome and slowly disappear.” 
While the foregoing is absolutely 
true, some explanation is usually nec- 
essary in order that the facts may be 
appreciated, but I often wonder why 
people with eyes to see, and minds to 
think, and reason, will continue to pay 
and pray for grass, while they persist 
in cultivating the dandelion. The sod 
by train load, and grass seed by the 
ton, is brought into our cities from 
the country, where the grass takes 
care of its self, or at least it is not 
interfered with by “fashion mongers” 
who are detestable in horticulture as 
in the control of man’s dress and 
social customs. Just as soon as the 
grass is placed under the supervision 
of our fashionable care-takers, the 
