The Washburn leader. [volume] (Washburn, McLean County, N.D.) 1890-1986, 1893-11-04
RUSSIAN CACTUS.
Press bulletin From the Government
Agricultural Station for North DIT
kDtu.

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SalSOla kali, 4 traSuS. ID. G.
This weed is rapidly becoming a
most pcrnicious pest in this state. AS
it stands to day it occupies, to the OK
clusion Of all other plants, about one
third Of the cultivated land Of three
counties. and is otherwise quite gener-
ally distributed throughout the counties
Of Dickey, Sargent, La Mourc, alcln-
tcsh. Ransom, Logan and parts Of
Richland and Emmons. 1t is to be
found in small patches in most locali-
ties east of the Missouri river and
south of the Northern Pacific railway.
This article is written as a warning
to those who do not know of the weed
by actual contact. but who, later, will
have to deal with it upon an extensive
scale, on their own farms, unless great
vigilance is very soon assumed and a
concerted effort made to check it's dis
tribution.
OF it's damaging capabilities I need
only note that entire fields Of large area
may be seen into which it would be ex-
IRENE cruelty to force Il team. because
Of the large size, density and thorny
nature of the brush. Within the area
Of it's 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 many fields which in the spring
gave promise Of a good yield of wheat.
At this date the ground is occupied by
a 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 q weed, but
were at times interested in a few stray
ones tumbling across the prairie. Six
teen years ago the weed did not exist
in the Dakotas; yet in 1852 govern
ment officials estimated the damages
upon wheat land alone as being ST.
100000. The area Of distribution in the
two states is low about 10000 square
miles.
The weed is not a cactus or a thistle,
but is commonly named Russian cac-
tus and Russian thistle because Of it's
origin and thorny nature. 1t is a near
relative Of the native tumble weed
,~(Amaranthus albus ~ and like it scat
tiers it's seed principally by tumbling be-
fore the wind. Its size varies, accord
ingly as it is or is not crowded in its
growth, from slight stiff sprigs, three
to six inches high to o dense, much
branched, harsh, thorny, rounded
bunch, three to six feet in diameter.
1t is delicate and %succulent while young,
I,,r oc 81 ,cs ~,Of,,ritxy 4hn h,pO ,,o1,nS
become hard and stiff and bear many
small rose colored flowers. The latter
are arranged alternately about ne
fourth of an inch apart, and are en-
closed by three short stiff, thorn-ike
leaflets. Before blackened by frost the
stems are striped with red. Besides
dropping out, as the weed tumbles
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 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 knobs, etc. a good
fence will stop most Of these.
At any time when weeds are mature
enough to break loose of their cwn
accord they can b. collected and
burned.
When young, the plant is eaten greed
lily by sheep and cattle.
The weed perishes Immediately by
being uprooted Or cut off ut the base;
and. it's 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-
stroyed; or if left until mature there
will he 4 time late in the fall when it
together with the stubbie and other
weeds may be cleared from the land by
fire.
1t does not grow upon the native
spots. During the month Of August a
comparatively small force Of .MOrkmcn
would suffice TO destroy ill weeds upon
road margins and the wild lands Of
the worst infested township in the
state.
The weed natures it's seed but SLOW
~, 70 that il vigilantly destroyed dur.
ing the early portion of the season, frost
will very effectually destroy the later
PLANTS.
Aside from It's tulnbling capacities
this weed possesses no quality which
would make it hard to exterminate
under Il careful system Of farming and
road management.
To summarize, this weGl is spread.
ing nor rapidly, perhaps, than any
heretofore known. and. under the pres
en-. 1nnSt altention which it is reCeiv-
ins, will soon cause an enormous
a,u"hnt Of damage throughout tie state.
Whop Gnce it las generally taken Ins-
sessin.l Of q large area of iani only
harcsc measures will Keep it in check.
Their. ar. however. no good REASONS
Why It should be allowed to cMIlyinu-
ali, encrnach upon new land.
S,.gsgestions-Sow no snail grain
that is not thoroughly clean from weed
seals The seed of this plant is SIS
large as Il ;i;lstard seed. ana may hc
known Iy the fact that the embryo is
>p.rally cooled, in form like Il snail
snail shell.
A good Wire fence is Of m,lcn adj
vantage.
10 not break up any moro nf the ma
tive sol than you can tend and FCcp'
clean.
Put all land sown to wheat or small
grain in such condition that the crop
,,,ov, 1ox-o thu 1,ncf nhc.i11n. start of tho