Watertown republican. [volume] (Watertown, Wis.) 1860-1906, 1890-12-31

the winter, or where ill-health makes il
cheaper to buy than cut ice, it is cheap
er t. buy by the load upon the pond
and pack it away in the winter, rather
than to buy it at retail during the sum-
mer. Perhaps the saving in cost may
not be great, but there will be the adj
vantage of always having plenty, and
only those who have tried it know how
much better that is than having it SO
scanty as to furnish about half q supply.
The California Thistle.
The California thistle (cardAuS arUensig)
Is by no means extinct. Attention was
drawn to this noxious weed three years
ago, and in some of the districts of Can
terbury, instead of it's showing signs of
disappearance, some of the farmers in
form us it is reappearing upon their
land this spring. The mention of this
thistle calls up the old-time recollec-
tons of the Canterbury Provincial
Council when the Scotch thistle APP
peared, and when, at periodic times,
some honorable member was wont to
move an amendment to the thistle ordi-
nance, or that a respectful address
should be presented to the superintend-
ent, requesting him to appoint in
spectors in any road district on being
requested to do so by the Road Board.
Then there was prevailing impression
that the thistle scourge was going to
equal the rabbit pest, but the time
has gone by when people really
think the common Scotch thistle
will do any real and lasting harm, but
the case is different with the California
importation. The greatest difficulty is
experienced in Graduating it, and hence
is justified the recommendation Of the
officer in charge of the agricultural
branch of the Land Department in
1887 advising legislation as being neces-
sary to compel landowners and occu-
piers to eradicate the thistle from their
properties. 1t is believed to exist in
some of the river beds and on waste, as
we'll as cultivated lands, and attention
should be given to it. Instances are re-
corded where salt has been tried and
been successful in keeping the Cali or
MIA thistle in check where it is limited
to small patches. Farmers have been
advised also to cover up the larger
patches with grain straw, allowing it to
rot. But this latter plan is not SO sue
cessful as could be wished. In one in
stance, upon chain square, which was
infested with the California thistle up
on L. Giles farm, Kaiapoi Island he
informs us that he spread stack of
wheat straw over the ground and al
lowed the cattle to tread it well for two
years. This spring he plowed the land,
upon which Mr.. Giles believed there
was not vestige Of thistle left, but
the plants, to his regret, are coming up
as thick as ever. An examination of
ground shows that the roots of the
thistle form perfect network, as if a
pig net or sheep net had been carefully
spread out and buried. The fbres of
these scots descend about two or three
feet into the soil, and directly one is
severed by the plough it seems to serve
as signal for the thistle to come up, as
if with general resurrection of it's dor
mant facilities for growing and spread
ing Mr.. Giles has not tried chloride of
lime, which has been recommended by
Mr.. Pearson, an agricultural chemist of
Victoria; but he looks with dismay
upon the damage which this noxious
weed may do to his rich alluvial farm
1t has been said there is no law against
allowing thistles to grow. If we recol-
lect, not very long ago, a farmer in one
of the Midland counties of Great Britain
sued a neighbor for allowing thistle seed
to spread on Lis land, and gained his
case. The Jury found for the plaintiff
with e3 damages. However, on appeal
the judgment was set aside, but it does
seem hard that united action, directed
by the government, is not taken to
check the probable spread of the Cali
fornia thistle in the fertile districts Of
the colony Christchurch (N. ~ Weekly
Press.