Lancaster daily intelligencer. [volume] (Lancaster, Pa.) 1864-1928, 1884-08-14
CANADA THISTLE.

A Growing Psst tnat Demsuds Prompt
Methods OF determination.
Il. j. Montgomery.
The vilest pest that infects our fields is
Canada thistle. Our farmers are just
waking up from inscnsibiity as to the
enormous injury which this nCxious weed
is about to iuilict upon them. Ten years
ago they saw it hero and there III the
woods, and occasionally small spot in
some obscure field, aud they were very
little alarmed about its spreading over
their land but now they are waking up
from their lethargy, and find they have
Just cause to dread its existence among
them. Its spread is irightlul and ii it
continues ten years longer unchecked
spreading both by extension OF root aud
seed, it will overrun their farms aud dc
privo them of more than half their value
Who can rest iu quiet composure aud
calmly view the ravages it is making? IL
has coat you q life time of labor, skill and
economy to purchase and pay for your
farms. Will you lose all by allowing
them to be irredeemably ruined 10y the
ravages of the Canada thistle? Or will
you rouse up while you may, and exterm-
nate the pernicious pest? Wait many
years longer, and your hopes and labors
will both be vain. Every man and boy in
committee and search out aud destroy this
nuisance. The Legislature Of Pennsyl-
vania has anticipated the result OF the
growing evil, and wisely made provision
against it, 30 far Ak positive law can pro
vide for the determination of a natural
evil. The following act was passed by
the Legislature of Pennsylvania, March
%, 1862, for the determination of the
Canada thistle
at shall be the duty of every person or
persons. aud of every corporation holding
lands in this commonwealth, either by
lease or otherwise, on which any Canada
thistle or weed, commonly known as tho
Canada thistle, may be growing, 10 cut
the same, go as to prevent such weed or
thistle from going To seed, and the seed
of the same from ripening and any person
OF persons, or corporation as Aforesaid,
who shall or may have land as aforesaid,
in such counties and who shall neglect, or
refuse TO comply with the provisions OF
this act, shall forfeit and pay foe Ot fiji
teen dollars, one half TO the county treas
urer, and the other half TO the use OF tho
person sueing for the same (HhO shall be
competent witness to prove the facts to
be recovered as other debts of a like
amount, before any justice Of the peace o.
in any court OF record in said county.
"lf any person or persons or corporations
30 holding land as aforesaid, on which
Canada thistle, or the weeds commonly
known as such, shall be growing and
likely to ripea seed thereon, shall neglect
or refuse to cut and destroy the same, SO
as to prevent tho seed thereof from ripeI-
ing, it shall aud may be lawful for any
person or persons, who may consider
themselves aggrieved, or about to b5 in
jured by such neglect or refusal, TO give
five days notice in writing to such person
or persons, or corporations, to cut aud
destroy such weeds or thistles, and on
their neglect OF refusal to cut and destrOy
the same, at the end Of five days it shall
and may be lawful, for auy person go
aggIieved, or believing themselves to DO
Injured thereby, to enter upon, or hire
ether persons to enter upon such premises,
and cut down and destroy such Canada
thistle, and the person or persons 50 EN-
ployed, shall bs entitled 70 recover from
such person or persons, or corporation,
owning or holding such land, compensation
at the rate of two dollars per day, 20 he
sued for aud recovered, rs debts of like
amount, before any justice or court 10 said
counties"