Jamestown weekly alert. [volume] (Jamestown, Stutsman County, D.T. [N.D.]) 1882-1925, 1893-11-02

"a
lty yet, except on the right of way of the
500 railroad where the seed has been
carried in feed. 1t was found that
there was not the necessary enthusiasm
in regard to the weed to do much and
the meeting was accordingly adjourned
sine die.
Those who have attended the meetings
are thoroughly aliye to the character of
the weed and express themselves, gen.
orally, as determined by good farming to
90 that much toward the eradication of
the pest and as time passes to secure leg.
lslative aid. ..
H. l.. Bolley, botanist of the expert.
mental station, discusses the Russian
cactus in Il press bulletin OF interest to
farmers. The conclusion which he
arrives at can be summed up in general,
as: Farm thoroughly, SOW clean seed
and plow under the plants when imma-
ture. He says:
'"Ibe weed is not a cactus or thistle,
but is commonly named Russian cactus
and Russian thistle because of its origin,
and thorny nature. 1t is near relative
OF the native tumble weed (Amaranthus
albus. L.) and like it scatters it's seed
principally by tumbllng before the wind.
Its size varies, accordingly as it is or Is
not crowded in its growth, from slight
stiff sprigs, three to six inches high to q
dense, much branched, harsh, thorny,
rounded bunch, these to six feet in
diameter. 1t is delicate and succulent
while young, but as it nears maturity
the branches become hard and stiff and
bear many small rose colored flowers.
The latter are arranged alternately about
one-fourth OF an inch apart. and are en-
closed by three short, stiff, thorn-like
leaflets Before blackened by frost the
stems are striped with red. Besides
dropping out, as the weed tumbles along
the individual seed may be blown short
distance because of the slight wings
formed by the dried blossom parts in
which each seed is enclosed.
| POINTS TO KEEP IN MIND.
This weed grows only from the 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 knolls, etc. A good
fence will stop most of these.
At any time when weeds are ma:ured
enough to break loose of their own &C.
cord they can be collected and burned.
The weed perishes Immediately by be.
ing uprooted or cut off at the base; and
its seeds are short lived. When grow
ing in small form because Of it's density
upon the ground, it may be turned under
by the plow in early August, and thus in
most parts destroyed: or If left until
mature there will be time late in the
fall when it together with the stubble
and other weeds may be cleared from
the land by fire.
1t does not grow upon the native prai-
rie sod, save where there are bare spots.
During the month Of August a compare
lively small force OF workmen would suf-
flee to destroy all weeds upon road mar
gins and the wild lands of the worst in
tested township in the state.
The weed natures it's seed but slowly;
so that il vigilantly destroyed during the
early portion Of the season, frost will
very efectually destroy the later plants.
ASIDE from it's tumbllng capacities
this weed possesses no quality which
would make it hard to exterminate un-
der careful system Of farming and road
management.
To summarize, this weed is spreading
more rapidly perhaps, than any hereto
fore known, and, under the present loose
attention which it is receiving, will soon
cause an enormous amount Of damage
through the state. When once it has
generally taken possession Of large area
of land only heroic efforts will keep it in
check. There are, however, no good ress-
ons why it should be allowed to continu-
ally encroach upon new land.
| Success With Corn.
| Edgeley Mail: The more our farmers
experiment with raising corn the better
success they have. and the more evident
1t becomes that corn is as safe crop as
any we have, for it can stand greater