The Massachusetts spy. [volume] (Worcester [Mass.]) 1821-1823, 1821-08-15
CANADA THISTLE,
.MpSsrs. .Mnnnlinp & TrlLmhuN-

JUessrs. Manning & IrunabuU-
This noxious weed, formerly peculiar to
Canada, has overrun Vermont and New-Hamp-
shire, and in its rapid and unobstructed march
is spreading itself far and wide in Massachu-
sets. In our land of Dock-root and CaterpiI-
lars, unless something more potent than the
common energy of our farmers is interposed, it
will be suffered to flourish, until the evil is
past remedy. In Canada there was a time
whenits scarcity was its security. So little Of it
composed the mass of their hay e grain, & the
produce of their pastures that the period for its
destruction was neglected: each succeeding
year increased its growth and the consequent
difhcultyof Graduating it. This hydra, which
might have been destroyed by an infant Her
cules, became too powerful for his manhood
The strong arm of government has been exert
ed to control ito subdue it, is perhaps now
impossible. 1t has had the same indulgence
in Vermont-is now denounced and as in
Canada, the Legislature, during their late ses-
sion, passed an act of OaalaaOry, and have cali
ed upon the citizens to enforce it. The same
Improvdence in the farmers of New-Hampshire
will make the same measure necessary in that
State.
1t is to be hoped that our Legislature, since
they have evinced disposition to prevent the
portion of the people who have been banish-
ed by the local policy of other States in the
Union, in violation of right, will preserve the
means of supporting those whom they consider
as having prior claim to the Commonwealth.
by banishing from our territory this foreign and
acknowledged foe, before it becomes natural
azed and IN possession of our farms.
The mode adopted in Canada and Vermont
to md the people of this publick enemy, is, to
make 1t the duty of every man to destroy it in
the Publick highway before his enclosure. In
cultivated ground it is readily destroyed like
other weeds. 1t is more prevalent in highways
from two causes: one is, the seed is deposited
there by horses and cattle which have fed on
1t in stables at a distance-the other, that
when undisturbed it is propagated by the seed
and by the root, which throws out lateral
sprouts, like the hop-vine. Its spreading has
been both rapid and extensive. Fifteen wears
ago, il is believed, it was not known in this
State, except by name. About that period the
writer was in the interiour of New-Hampshire.
As he dealt extensively in grass-seed, he was
determined to examine it, and procure the seed
that he might detect and avoid it in his pur-
chases. For this purpose he rode some miles
with a gentleman who could point it out
1t now grows in luxuriance in almost ev-
cry fertile spot by the way-side, not on
ly on the frontiers, but in many places in the
centre of this State 1t is to be seen in great
promise at Newbury-Port, and in the immedi-
ate vicinity Of Boston, and elsewhere. 1t is
found in many parts of the County of Worces-
ter, even in the shire-town, the very core of
:" the Heart of the Commonwealth From
ats growth in the highways, the thistle, like
the dock, finds ready access by the rains to
our enclosures; and without great care, will
soon supplant this farourite of our farmers,
which it is to be presumed they rely on as a GER
tam cure for an eruptive disorder, being 9TH
crwise worse than useless. This would seem
to be pity, after their trouble of gathering
the ripe seed, and placing it in the highway
to be threshed by the wheels of the traveller,
and washed back to the field from whence it
sprung to produce from sixty to hundred
fold. In such a result, wo be to the family
that lacks supply of docIx-root! The this
tie would be found sorry substitute. In
stead of allAying, it might aggravate the COM
plant. AS my family is small and not
much subject TO this disorder, my practice is
to destroy the remedy, and in case of need,
to rely on my neighbours, who have an album
dance. If have suffered any to ripen, in
stread of throwing it into the highway, COM
INIT it to the flames. AGRICOLA.