HOUSE AND GARDEN 
August, 1913 
On many country 
estates the poison ivy 
takes firm hold, 
causing constant an¬ 
noyance and spread¬ 
ing each year over 
more and more 
ground. Certainly no 
vine could be more 
pleasing to the es¬ 
thetic sense than this 
one, with its decora¬ 
tive leaves, its cool, 
refreshing green 
tones and shining 
surfaces, but in spite 
of its loveliness it is 
wise to get out a 
spray pump, fill it 
with arsenate of 
soda and water (a 
pound to every twen¬ 
ty gallons of water) 
and proceed imme¬ 
diately to the attack. 
The surest way, 
of course, to elim¬ 
inate poison ivy and poison dogwood from situations where they 
are a menace to human safety and peace of mind, is to root them 
up by main force. It is a well-known fact that certain individuals 
are practically immune to the effects of the poisonous properties 
of the plants, and such fortunate beings can tear up roots and all 
without danger to themselves. This is the most certain method, 
but one attended by less danger of poisoning, and quite effective 
withal, is the use of 
concentrated sul¬ 
phuric acid. In this 
latter method the 
plants do not need to 
be touched. A half 
teaspoonful of the 
preparation should 
be applied to the 
stem of the plant 
every two or three 
weeks during the 
spring, care being 
taken to prevent the 
acid touching the 
skin of the operator, 
as it is extremely 
corrosive. A 11 the 
refuse of odds and 
ends resulting from 
either method of 
eradication should be 
burned outdoors, 
where it can do no 
possible harm, and 
when the acid treat¬ 
ment is employed it 
should be entrusted only to those who fully realize the responsi¬ 
bility attendant upon its use. 
It is sometimes surprising to learn for what long periods of 
time the poisonous element in these two plants will remain in a 
virulent state when separated from its parent stem. One well- 
authenticated case of poisoning occurred during the winter 
months from gloves not used since September. 
Poison ivy need never be confused with 
Virginia creeper; its leaves are trifoliate, 
while the creeper’s are in clusters of five 
Poison ivy flowers are yellowish-green in color and grow 
in comparatively short panicles 
The pale gray winter shoots 
of poison dogwood 
The panicles of poison dogwood blossoms are some¬ 
times ten inches in length 
