The central Presbyterian. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1856-1908, 1893-11-22
THE FARM.

The RUSSIAN THIsTLE.-The
Russian thistle was introduced into
this country about seventeen years
ago In haxseed brought from Russia
and soWed near Scotland, S. d. A
few observing people noticed it at
that time, but gave it little thought
until it became too abundant to be
easily checked.
In May or June the seed germin-
ates and sends up a tender, branch
ing shoot, with narrow, succulent
leaves. During the warm weather
in July and August, when other
weeds are less aggressive, this one
makes its best growth, and by
September has changed from an in
nocent little seeding to a vigorous,
spreading weed two to six feet in
diameter and half as hlgh-a dense,
bushy mass of rigid branches, offer
ing an effectual barrier to the pas.
sage of man or beast. The long,
tender leaves have fallen. and at in.
tervals of half an inch or less on the
branches are clustered three sharp
splnes a quarter to half an inch
long.
The full-grown plant, SHAPE d like
an inverted saucer, two to six feet
In diameter, all grows from a single
root less than half an inch thick.
When the ground is frozen in
November and the prairie breezes
begin to practice for the winter this
small root is twisted off and the
whole plant turns up on edge like a
cart wheel and goes off before the
wind, scattering seeds at every re-
volution.
Last year the area infested in
cluded the greater part of the land
between the James and Missouri
rivers in South Dakota and parts of
the two southern tiers of counties
IN North Dakota, in all about 80.
600 square miles, and the damage
done exclusively by this weed was
estimated at 100000. This wear
the area has increased very largely,
and Minnesota, Wisconsin, Iowa and
Nebraska have been invaded.
There is nothing in the nature of
the plant to prevent its spreading
on the plains as far south as Texas,
and in fact proving a very serious
enemy to farmers in all the drier
regions throughout the entire coun-
try.
1t takes complete possession of
cultivated land, choking out the
wheat and other crops. The rigid,
bulky plantg often make it impos-
slble to run harvesting machinery
and sometimes even stop plows. 1t
Is often necessary to bind leather or
other protection on the horses legs
before they can be driven among
the spring weeds. Trains have been
stopped by the thistles banking up
on the tracks. Prairie fires are
carried long distances by the burn
ing thistles blowing across fire.
breaks. In many other WAYS this
terrible weed causes serious damage.
1t may be exterminated with
comparative ease if vigorous meas
ures are resorted to. The plant is
an annual, growing each year from
the seed. The seed is short lived
and if no fresh seed is allowed to be
produced for three years the FIGHT
will be over. The war of extermina.
ton must extend all over the region.
for it will avail but little for a
single township, county or even
State to kill the weeds within it's
borders while th-y are allowed to
grow in the neighboring region.
The work of determination must be
general and it must be thoroughly
done.
A movement is now on foot in
the Northwest to petition Congress
to give the Secretary of Agriculture
power to institute vigorous meas
ures as was done in the case of
pleuropneumonia among cattle q
few years ago. A judicious expendi-
ture of 100000 would now prob
ably exterminate the thistle. Ii did
damage to that amount last wear.
This wear the loss is twice that sum.