Eradication of Blackberries.

King Country Chronicle, Volume II, Issue 97, 4 September 1908, Page 4

Eradication of Blackberries.

The following method of eradicating blackberry is by Mr F. B. Guthrie, of the New South Wales Department of Agriculture. Mr Guthrie suggests that the freshly cut stems of the plants should be dressed with dry powdered arsenite of soda. A correspondent who tried this wrote that "this was only partially successful, owing, perhaps, to the powder purchased not being the best kind," being lumpy, and having rio means at his disposal to make it fine—a large quantity fell to the ground, refusing to stick to the ends of the stems —where it did cling it did its work effectually. However, the idea of applying arsenite jof soda was made use of by mixing a solution of arsenic to 21b of washing soda, and mixing them in five 'gallons of boiling water (the water must be boiling when the mixing takes place), this was applied to the roots after digging round them, so that the liquid would percolate to the roots. This was most effective; the clump of birar is now quite destroyed. The cost of treating this particular patch, having an area of about twelve square yards, was about 2s Gel; it would therefore be too costly for large areas, unless a less quantity proved sufficient to kill the plant than was used in the instance above quoted. Arsenite. of soda is very deadly poison and in ordinary circumstances contact of living plants with very small quantities is sufficient to kill. In the experiments carried cut at the Hawkesbury Agricultural College, + he cost of the Asrenite of soda solution worked out at 2d. for five gallons. If then, care is taken to apply the solution without waste by means of a spray pump, the cost should not be beyond a reasonable amount. and would, without doubt-., be cheaper than grubbing by hand. A word of caution with regard to stockrunning in the same paddock is necessary. Owing to the poisonous nature of arsenite of soda, stock should be removed until the scrub has been eradicated. Ijy this means any grass that may have been sprayed will have died, and will thus be burnt, and the risk of accid-m from poison reduced to a minimum.