Orleans County monitor. [volume] (Barton, Vt.) 1872-1953, 1888-09-03
DAKOTA'S WEED.
A Remarkable Plant Which Sometimes
Creates "A Decided Sensation.

The last six years have developed
wonderful things in Dakota, both IN
the productions of the soil and of the
settlers, if we may believe the news
papers. and until we have occasion to
doubt Dakota editor our confidence
will remain mistaken. Eastern Dako-
ia is old now and no new thing can
come out of it to startle the world,
and since the delicious Buffalo berry
acknowledged to Pierre lady, year
ago, that it was discovered, men of
science have crossed the "Big Muddy"
into the wilds beyond, and their dis
coveries are numerous and even more
wonderful than before. A Dakota
editor and his wife while out shaking
recently discovered several new
species of snakes, the most interesting
of which was the ''fish snake.
Two years ago the pop-weed first
made its appearance along the borders
of civilization from the interior of the
Sioux Reservation; and cattlemen
along the Missouri bottoms have had
interesting times ever since. 1t is
qalite late in the fall when the pop
weed ball begins to roll like tumble
weeds over the prairies. The pop
weed is rank growing weed known
only to this section; it has stalk like
the cabbage plant, with a large round
top the size of Hubbard squash and
about the same color. There are thou
sands of acres of the pop-weed in the
reservation, and they are very numer-
Gus and grow to a prodigious size in
the vicinity of ''alkali beds"
When the terrific northwest winds"
blow late in the fall the pop-balls be-
come detached from the stalks and roll
for miles over the prairies; until they
reach uneven country or other OBJ
structions, where they accumulate and
pile up like high banks OF snow. Be
hind these banks of weeds the wild
buffalo found shelter in mid-winter
from the fierce billiards.. If the pop
weed ball comes forcibly in contact
with any hard object while rolling it
explodes with tremendous report, a
cloud of fine powder passes on through
the air. and thousands of sharp fine
needles are thrown out in every direc-
ton. These needles are the seeds of
the pop-weed, and are what produce
the mischief with stock, for they are
very penetrating. A "critter" will
run from a rolling pop-weed like a
iack-rabbit from coyote.
The Indians now located at Brule
Agency tell strange and interesting
stories about the weed. 1t is said that
the Young braves of the tribe, for
discipline and to prepare themselves
to endure great torture, would select
| chiefs and array themselves in battle
line, and fight with these pop-balls
like schoolboys in SNOWFALL contest:
1.-The battle of the pop-weed" was held
! once year, and was witnessed by the
whole tribe with great pomp ana
parade. This day was to the young
braves what the Fourth OF July is TO
the American youth. There were the
smoke and noise of battle to pertec-
ton, and the fine, sharp needles caused
intense pain. The greatest exhibitions
of bravery were rewarded by promo
ton in the tribe, and presentations OF
handsome bead-work were made by
the young braves best girls.
But this famous weed, that once
sheltered the wild buffalo of the plains
| from the winter storms and was used
in the sham battles of the young Sioux
braves, has since become very obnoX-
ious to the Missouri River cattlemen,
and they are agitating the question OF
the best method of obtaining protec-
ton from it. In the Village of Pop
Weed" $50 called by the Indians, be-
cause the weeds cover the ground Tor
miles at this point and grow very
large) are the arrow-grounds. just
before starting on the annual hunt
they went in large numbers TO the
pop-weed village for arrow Inc
needles from the largest pop-weeds
are very long. and when baked in hot
ashes become very hard and strong
and make good arrows. When they
found a large pop-bali they wouiu
shoot into it with arrows and cause II
to explode AMI throw out its needles,
which they gathered and prepared for
use. The Indians went arrowlng late
in the fall, and before the pop-weed
ball commenced to roll over the pralr-
les all the Indian villages were desert
ed. This was the order of the tribe
every fall to get Their horses and other
stock ont of the way of the dangerous
pop-weed to prevent them from run
ming away. The pop-weed is as yet
unknown to botanists.