Juniata sentinel. [volume] (Mifflintown, Pa.) 1846-1873, 1872-04-24
FARM AND HOUSEHOLD.
THE CANADA THISTLE.

MIA have not been more energetic in their
endeavors to prevent the inroads of the
Canada Thistle on their primises, or to
get rid of what there may already be
there. 1t is well known fact that near
" the whole Of the Western New York
is overrun by this noxious weed. aud
that having once obtained foothold. it is
Of all other farm pests, one OF The most
difficult to eradicate In view of such a
fact, it void seem to be only a matter
Of ordinar. prudtnce on the part of every
farmer to take all possible precautions
against its introduction on 10 his premi
ses, and yet there is with many, such
marked Indifference tliat it deserves no
better title than downright crirrinality.
One careless farmer may be, and fire.
quently is, the means of introducing this
weed to an entire neighborhood, and when
two or three living adjacent are Of the
sane disposition, the injury done to farm
property is almost incalculable. Hence
il j. that farmers one aud all should set
thci faces determinedly against the nui-
sarce, and resolve that no efforts be
spared by them to prevent its becoming
tenant of their premises Allow me
then little space in which to briefly
enumerate some of the methods said to
be ciIcctual for its eradication.
The Canada Thistle is not only a pc
rennial. bnt has powerful creeping roots,
or what Dr Darlington terms the ro!zo-
ma or subterranean stem which is peren
NAL and very tenacious of life and lies
rather below the usual depth of furrows,
and hence the plant is not destroyed by
common blowing This roizoma rami-
fies and extends itself horizontally in all
directions. s,udirg up branches to the
sar!ace. when radical leaves are develo-
ped the first year and aerial stems the sec
ond the plant appears to die at the end
,f the second summer, but it only dies
down to the horizontal subterranean stem.
Nolhing short Of destroying the perren
NAL portion of the plant will rid the
ground Of this pest.
in regard to its eradication, some adopt
cutting with sharp scythe when the
stock is hollow, which is when in bios
som-and during very heavy rains. As
the stocks are not all hollow, this process
will be required to be repeated for three
wears. in OF der to make finish of them.
Another advises that as soon as the tops
are out of the ground in spring, give them
good deep plowing and then as soon
as the tops re appear, go at them with
sharp hoe, cutting down every one that
is seen, being sure to cut them off well
below the surface. By persevering in
this course through the entire season, 1t
is said that they can be got rid of
Now these processes, and many others,
that have read, but cannot recall to my
mind Mt this moment, may prove elective
but is there an easier and more certain
plan If any of the readers of your
journal have found out this better meth
cd, will not they give us the benefit of
their experience through the columns OF
your valuable paper.
Grinding Wheat without Mill Stones.
a mill for grinding wheat without mill
stones has been devised in Great Britain,
and one of the machines is now in sue
cessful operation at E iinburg. This
mill reduces wheat by percussion, while
it is unsupported and falling freely, or
being projected through the air The
wheat, in passing through the machine,
is struck by series of bars moving at
immense speed in opposite directions.
1t is so instantaneously reduced into
state ready for boiling that no injurious
leat is caused, and the -four produced is
of much superior quality to that obtained
by ordinary grinding, while the cost of
lis production is considerably less. The
advantages of this invention are the very
slight and rarely needed repairs it re
quires against the keeping in order of
mill stones the fewer men required, and
the consequent saving in wages the ex-
emption from loss by scorching. and
greatly diminished fire insurance; the
small ground and space occupied, and
the much less driving power needed in
one case than the other.
lT is fact not as generally known as
it should be, that the onion is remarkable
for its nutritious qualities, According to
analysis. the dried onion root contain.
from 25 to 80 per cent. of gluten. In
this respect it ranks with the nutritious
pea. The onion is to the Spanish and
Portuguese, what cheese is to the Eng
lish labOrer; it helps to sustain his
strength, and adds largely to the nour-
ishment which his simple meal suggests.
If onions were more largely used in this
country, there is little doubt that the
general health of our rural population
would be greatly promoted The only
reason why they are not more extensively
employed as an article of general con-
sumtion in large cities, and amongst
what are known as the better classes, is
because of the strong odor emitted from
them while cooking This objection
does not apply with so much force in the
cnuntry " hpra tbe focilitiac for x,apt;l,