Courier Democrat. (Langdon, N.D.) 1891-1920, 1893-11-02
RUSSIAN CACTUS.
Press bulletin From the Government
Agricultural station fog North Da-
Salsola kali. var trawuS. u. c.

NSi titssuN. II. I.
This weed is rapidly becoming
most perniciouS pest in this state As
it stands to day it occupies, 10 thu on
clusion IF all other plants, about ono
third of the cultivated land of thrcc
counties, and is otherwise quite Scncr-
ally distributed throughout the counties
Of Dickcy. Sargent. la Mourr, Hiril-
t"sh. Ransom. Logan and parts of
Richland and lsmmonS. 1t is to he
found in small patches in most locali-
ties cast of tho Missouri river and
south of the Northern Pacific railway.
This article is writlcn as a warning
to those who do not i;iiHw of the weed
by actual contact. but who, later: will
have to deal With it upon an extensive
scale, on their own farms, unless grca,
vigilance is very soon assumed and Il
concerted effort made to check its dis
trbution.
OF its damaging capabilities ] need
cnly note that entire fields of large area
may be seen into which ii would be OK
IRENE cruelty TO force 4 team. because
of the large size. density and thorny
nature of the brush. Within the area
of its distribution in South Dakota
(most of that portion know as the
James River Valley many farms are
being abandoned, the cactus having
taken full possession.
From Lisbon to Edgeley and south
ward from these two points there may
be seen m:ny fields which in the spring
gave promise of a good yield Of wheat.
AT this date the ground is occupied by
Il solid mass of cactus brush; and there
was no harvest. Three years ago farm
erS in that region were hardly aware
OF the existence Of such weed, but
were ut times interested in Il few stray
ones tEmbling across the prairie. Six
teen years ago the weed did not exist
i'll the DakotaS; yet in 1872 govern
mcnt officials estimated the damages
upon wheat land alone us being 81
60O,0Oo The area OF distribution in the
two states is now about 10000 square
miles.
The weed is not Il cactus or a thistle.
but is commonly named Russian Gaze
tus and russian thistle because of its
origin and thOrny nature. 1t is {: near
relative Of the native tumble weed
(AmaranthuS alluS IT, and like it seat
tcls its seed pr'.cir"liy by tulnbling be-
fore the wind. It's size varies, accord
ingly as it is or is not crowded in it's
growth, from slight stiff SprigS, three
to six inches high to q dense. much
hlanchrd, harsh, lhcrly, rounded
bunch, three to six feet in diameter.
1t is delicate and Succulent while young.
but rs it nearS maturity the branches
become hard aud stiff and bear many
small rose colcrPu flowers. The latter
are arranged alternately about one
fourth OF an inch apart. and are ell
closed by three short stiff. lhorn-likc
leaflets. Before Diackrncd by frost the
stems are striped with red. Besides
dropping out. as the weed tumblcs
along, the individual seeds may be
blown short distances because of the
slight wings formed by the dried BIOS
som parts in which each is enclosed
Points to Keep in Mind-This weed
grows only from tho seed.
Only weeds which have been allowed
to reach large size ever tumble. These
are. in most part. found only in waste
places, or Improperly cultivated spots.
such as margins OF wheat fields. old
fire breaks gopher knobs. etc. y good
fence will stop most of these.
All amy time when weeds are mature
enough to break loose of their rwn
accord they can n.. collected and
burned.
When young. the plant is eaten greed
lily by sheep aud cattle.
The weed pcriShcS Immediately by
being uprooted or cut off ut the base;
anG its seeds are short lived. When
growing in small form because of its
density upon The ground. it may be
turned under by the plow in early
August. and thus in most parts de-
stroAcu; or if left until Dlaturr there
will be 4 time late in the fall when it
together With The stllbble ana other
weeds may be cleared from the land I,y
fire.
1t does not grow Hpon the native
prairie sod, save where there are bare
spots. During the month of August Il
comparatively small force of worklncn
would suffice 10 destroy Ill weeds upon
road margins aud the will lands uf
the worst infested township in the
state.
The weed natures its seed bit sl1w-
ly. 50 that if vigilantly destroyed dnr-
ing the early portion of the season, frost
will very ctfectCally destroy the later
PLANTS.
Aside from its tunbling capacities
this weed possesses no quality which
would make i, hard TO cxtcrIn,ntc
under 4 careful system of farming and
road management.
TO summarize. this weed is spread.
ing more rapidly. perhaps. tllan any
heretofore known. and, under the pres
en-. loose. ;itrn.ion which it is rrCeiv-
Ing. viii soon cause an enormous
a,l"u,lt Of damage throughout tie state.
WhCr Gnce it las generally .lNrl as
Ses>in., OF Il large artv; Of ianti .'nly
hare g II ta%,lres will keep it in Uit elk.
There ar. however. no good REASONS
Why It should be allowed 10 r,l.inu-
ali encr.lch upon ncW land.
Si.ggc<tiOnS--SDW no Su,Hll grain
that is not thoroughly clean from weed
ss,lS I'hc Seed of this plant is SIS
larg.. as Il bastard seed. ANA may he
known Ivy tie fact that the embryo is
>r:r,lly C":lcI, in form like i >'iall
snail shell.
A good wire fence is of mucn adj
vantage.
~ 1lrt Drrul, IN any moro Of Ill,. M