Show I I USE ARSENIC TO DESTROY TREES Often Desirable to Employ Some Method Surer Than That of Girdling AUSTRALIAN PLAN IS S GOOD Useful Directions for Making Poison Solution for Quick and Effective Work In All Kinds of Timber Are Given Given Prepared by the United States Department Department Depart Depart- ment meat of or Agriculture In cleaning up pasture land or clearIng clearIng clearing clear- clear Ing new land for crops it is often desirable to kill trees by some method surer and quicker than the time old-time method of girdling In dealing d with the he kinds of trees which sprout from the stump such as ns the time oaks hickories hickories hicko hicko- ries rles and red gum a h reliable method of killing is especially needed For the purpose of poisoning trees arsenic has been successfully used In both this and other countries often killing trees in a few weeks or a few days which by the simple girdling process would require months mouths US Useful ull directions for making up a poison polson solution so 80 lution for quick and effective work In all nIl kinds of timber together with the method of application are given below below be be- low quoted from a recent number of the time Australia Forestry Journal In Australia It appears much Investigation tion has been widely used with excellent excellent excellent ex ex- results Formula Found Good Following Is the formula Arsenic 1 pound Whiting Whiling pound Water 4 gallons Washing soda 1 pound or caustic soda pound Since the ordinary white arsenious oxide of commerce is not soluble In water to any great degree soda has hasto hasto hasto to be used for the purpose When large amounts of the poison polson are desired desired desired de de- de- de sired washing soda will be cheaper h aper but for small amounts caustic soda will perhaps be found the handiest To prepare the solution first dissolve dissolve dis dig solve the soda either form In a convenient convenient convenient con con- amount of water using heat If desirable to assist and hasten it then slowly add the arsenic previously made Into a thin paste tas as the housewife housewife housewife house house- wife treats her flour corn stirring all an the time place on a strong fire ld after r It Jt ling has come to the boll boil al allow low It to remain boiling for at least half an hour stir from time to time I and be careful to stand on the side away from the fumes as being poisonous poisonous poisonous pois pois- onous they are apt to cause sickness Winter Best Season The best time for carrying on the operation of poisoning is when the tree Is dormant or during the winter months month This will most surely prevent prevent prevent pre pre- vent suckering although trees can be killed practically any time of the year arIn ar I In applying the poison polson the tree Is first girdled by a s' s series of heavy henvy downward downward downward down down- ward strokes of the ax through the bark and well Into the wood leaving the chips protruding outward in a frill extending completely around the tree It Is necessary that this tIlls frilling process be thoroughly done which alone would ordinarily kill the tree after some time A half pint for small trees to a quart for very ery large trees of the poison polson Is then poured Into the chipped surface taking care are areto to saturate the wood thoroughly An AnOld AnOld Anold old teapot or kettle with a spout serves well t the e purpose of at pouring without needless waste or spilling down the trees Saplings may be cut cutoff cutoff off low down and the poison polson applied over the stump by a swab stick If this Is done when the sap Is down the tree will be completely killed and antI suckering prevented |