Reporter and farmer. [volume] (Webster, Day County, Dakota [S.D.]) 188?-1946, 1893-11-16
THE RUSSIAN THISTLE.

IL seems certain that he only way
OF Kidding the country of this pest
Is oy concerted action throughout
'he anected region. In spite of
occasional checks the weed has con-
tinued to spread until half of South
Dakota, a large area in North Da-
kota, and more or less of Minnesota
and Nebraska are already thor
ough!y infested or are IN a fair way
70 become so. 1t is practically use-
less for a man to try to keep his
farm free if his nelghbor's farm is
allowed to remain a source Of infec.
ton. Abandoned fields, fire
breake, hedge-rows, dried up lake
beds and railroad cuts and embank-
ments all help to produce an album
dance Of seed. Some way should
be devised whereby these places
could be kept clean. Many farm
ers are unable, for lack OF means or
otherwise, to care for their fields
properly. Seine are careless and
allowed the weed to get such a
start that it seems a hopeless task
to gain control again.
Professor HAYES, of the Mime
sofa experiment station, has advan-
ced some good, practical ideas on
the subject. Let the matter be ia
ken up by the general government
and by the state governments as
well. Let means be furnished to
get the work well under way or at
least allow the farmers to get con-
troll of the weed. Then have a law
and enforce it, giving the proper
authorities power to clean up waste
places, and farmers even, at public
expense il necessary. Various
methods of raising the necessary
funds have been suggested.
The one thing absolutely essen
tial is IMMEDIATE ACTION. The
longer it is delayed the greater will
be the ultimate expense and
trouble.
AS an Illustration of the spread
of the weed, mention may be made
Of its progress IN Brookings county.
Two years ago a few plants We're
found along the railroad at Volga,
a few at Brookings, and a few at
Oakland lakes. Last year was an
unfavorable year for the growth of
the weed and it attracted but little
attention. Many farmers said 1t
would not grow in the Sioux Valley
on account of the moisture. This
summer, however, the weed appear
ed in great quantities in the vicin-
ity of Volga and between there and
lakewood, many grainields were so
badly infested as to render harvest
ing very dlsagreeable. The road
sides in many places are lined with
the prickly, unsightly weeds.
Enough seed has been produced to
SOW the entire county. Fortunate
" the timber along the river will
protect the land east of it IN a
measure. Ever since the first APP
pearance of the weed about Brook.
lngs, great pans have been taken
TO destroy it wherever and when
ever found.
Let the farmers, and all others
interested in the welfare of oul
agricultural industries agitate the
matter. Lay it before our Congress
men. Get them to act this coming
session. Let the farmers unite and
have everything in readiness for q
vigorous campaign all along the
line this coming season. Burn al
the weeds possible. Diversity the
farming. Keep every weed IRON
going to seed. The weed is an an
nual and our experience has been
that the seeds are not longlived
Two years of thorough cultivation
ouobt to leave a field practically
clean. North Dakota has already
started the work. Let us follow.
The one redeeming feature OF the
weed is that it can be used for for
ave nhen properly cut and cured.
70 grow it, however, 10 like playing