Grant County herald. [volume] (Lancaster, Wis.) 1850-1968, 1873-04-15
The HERALD
Killing Canada Thistles.

A young farmer inquiries how to
d, stroy the Canada thistles which
have spread Ia large patches over
portions Of bis farm. We give him
oar own experience, which is similar
o that Of many others.
II Ia founded on the well-known
principle in vegetable physiology /,
hat plants cannot live unless they
aAn breathe through their
caves. Smother them for one sum
mer, and they will perish. This
will apply to all weeds that spread
by the roots. Our FIRST experiment
WAS made many years ago, on g
rough spot of ground selected for a
tow garden the only place where,
on building a new house, the garden
could DO made. II was nearly cover.
cd with Canada thistles, milk weeds,
End many other weeds. In single
season every one was completely
rradioated, and the whole surface
lett az clean and mellow as a garden
bed. The whole process was-deep
aGa repeated plowing. AS soon as
any weeds begin to peep up AT the
surface, or rather little before, the
blowing was repeated. The inter-
walls between the blowing were us
ually three or four weeks. Four
months are enough to kill the weeds
But If they are allowed to get above
ground, they will soon recover all
they have lost by burying, and the
work will be interminable.
Many years after the above exper
iment we had occasion TO prepare q
six acre grass field for wheat. Most
Of it was densely covered with Can
ada thistles. The work was com.
menoed in June, aud the thistles.
which had already formed their
blossom buds, were turned beeply
and completely under by means +
large sod pillow. Once u month the
operation was repeated, until at
the ploughing, late in September,
mellow as an ash>hesp, the wheat
was sown. No thistles made their
appearance the following year ex-
eept along the fence where the pillow.
ng was not done.
Many other experiment have since
heen equally effectual.
Some pTecaution must DO observ-
%. The operation is most easily
and successfully performed on heavy
soils, which lie more compactly, and
more efiectually excludes the air.
On light soils tho operation 10 more
dificult--more care must be taken
10 perform the blowing deeper and
more perfectly, and it must be re-
peated oftener. The owner can
Judge best on the spot, and must see
that the weeds are kent completely
under. Again If there are stumps,
stone.heaps, or other obstacles 10
the way of perfect blowing, it will
he found that the weeds have kept
their hold in those places. The OBJ
stacles must therefore be removed
previously, ii thorough work couo
be made. 1t fences interfere with
the complete eradication OF the this
Ties they sho u.d be removed If tenn
porary, or spade should be used
Instead of plOw, if there are post
aud rail fences which are perman-
snt.
Many years ago, when performing
these experiments, and when labor
vas cheap, we asertained that land
wholly covered with tho thistles
might DO thoroughly cleaned in one
aeAson for five dollars per acre now
would cost ten or fifteen dollars
rhe purchaser Of farm covered
with thistles ,hould therefore make
a deduction of about itteen dollars
per acre in price for the expense OF
eradication. Country Gentleman.