254 QUEENSLAND AGRICULTURAL JOURNAL. [1 Sxprr., 1899. 
comparison. Hight plots were sprayed on the tares. Where 50 gallons of & 
2 per cent. solution were applied to early spring tares, the rows of which were 
almost lost in the charlock, it was cleared out, except where one plant had 
covered up a smaller one, and the tares showed up clearly in the rows, making 
altogether a thoroughly good piece. Very noticeable was a plot of tares, a very 
little above ground, in which the charlock was quite young also, being little — 
beyond the butterfly leaf; a 2 per cent. solution had cleared the charlock out 
and left the tares intact. Twelve plots of oats were sprayed. ‘The first lesson 
learned on the oat plots was that where there is a crop some inches high—in 
this instance about 4 or 5 inches—a 25-gallon dressing, although useful, was. 
not ‘sufficient; also, that a 50-gallon dressing, although weak, cleared the land 
of the pest; also, that a 2 per cent. solution of sulphate of copper was 
practically as effective in the charlock as a 74 per cent. solution of sulphate of iron, 
while it in no way distressed the crop, and there was some tingeing of the out 
blade by the iron sulphate. The most striking feature was the excellent effect ofa 
1 per cent. solution of sulphate of copper at 50 gallons. It fell very little short 
in its effect on the charlock, and was absolutely unnoticeable on the oats. A 
general consensus of opinion was that on.crops at this stage a 2 per cent. 
solution at 50 gallons, followed by the same quantity of a 1 per cent. in about 
a week, would absolutely destroy the weed, no matter how thick it stood, or a 
harrowing might be substituted for the second spraying. In either case the 
following up of the work when the weed was in an enfeebled condition would 
destroy all without injury to the crop. It is observed that, where the weed is: 
so thick that the small plants are covered by the big, occasional plants will 
not get enough to kill them. Even with this, the plants left behind were so few 
that they might be pulled by hand at small cost. The beans experimented 
upon were on a neighbouring farm, and were practically enveloped in charlock. 
Very heavy dressings were applied—as much as 75 gallons of 3 per cent. solution 
of sulphate of copper and 75 gallons of 6 per cent. sulphate of iron, with the 
result that the flat and tender leaved beans were strongly tinged; however, the: 
charlock was very much affected, and time will tell as to its results on the bean 
crop. In the case of the oats and tares, the plots will be left undisturbed to 
note ultimate effects. Altogether, previous favourable reports of the operation 
were quite confirmed, and a most instructive set of experiments instituted, in 
the viewing of which all the visitors were deeply interested, as well as with 
some grass and other experiments in progress on the college farm. 
On the effects of the Uckfield College experiments, Mr. E. Brand writes as 
follows to the Farmer and Stockbreeder :— 
EFFECTS OF THE UCKFIELD COLLEGE EXPERIMENTS. 
The demonstration of the method, and its effects, of the destruction of 
charlock among growing crops by means of spraying. with the sulphates of iron 
and copper, which took place at the Agricultural College Farm at Uckfield, on 
Wednesday, 17th May, brought into notice several significant points—points 
which, as the demonstration was well attended by agriculturists from far and 
near, should not be lost upon them, or upon any whose calling or interests lead 
them to watch with particular keenness the development of what may be called 
one of the latest benefits conferred upon farmers by experimental research— 
the destruction of that abominable pest which has been acknowledged hitherto 
to be more difficult to eradicate than couch or twitch. 
The effects upon the crops previously sprayed with the various solutions. 
were ably and untiringly explained by Professor Malden, the principal of the 
college; and the methods of working the different hand and power machines, 
and of mixing the solutions, were interestingly shown by Mr. Strawson, who is, 
it may be said, not only a machinist of fame, but a chemist. 
One of the first noticeable points was the generally better effect of sulphate 
of copper (bluestone) than that of iron; that is to say, while both have a 
similar effect in destroying the kilk* when applied correctly, the iron salt 
appeared to injure the crop at the same time rather more distinctly. 
* Local name for a certain variety of charlock.—EKd, Q.4.J. 
