Indian chieftain. [volume] (Vinita, Indian Territory [Okla.]) 1882-1902, 1894-08-16
The NEW PEST.


How to Fight the Russian Thistle.
Secretary Coburn, of the state board
of agriculture, has issued Russian
thistle bulletin which farmers of the
state may find Of much benefit to them
in giving knowledge Of the this tie,
which Il is said has made its appear
ance in some counties OF the state. The
bulletin is n pamphlet of sixteen pages
and not only fully describes the pest
but tells how to combat IL. The pub
lication can be had free by addressing z
F. d. Coburn, secretary state board OF
agriculture, Topeka. Kan.
After giving history OF the first ap-
pearance of the thistle In this country,
Secretary Coburn gives a description
of IL taken from bulletin issued by
the United States department of agri-
culture.
I'm May and June the seeds of the
weed germinate, each sending up on a
slender red stem two narrow green
leaves about an inch long and some
what similar in appearance TO shoots
Of grass. Between these seed leaves a
short stem soon appears bearing slen-
der, spine-tipped leaves, which later
produce branches in their axils These
young shoots and leaves are tender and
Juicy, and are eagerly eaten by sheep,
cattle and horses. Until the dry
weather begins, the plants grow rather
slowly, but they store an abundance
of moisture in the succulent leaves and
branches. During the dry weather in
August the moisture disappears from
the slender leaves, and they wither and
sometimes fall off.
During August and early September
the plants become rigid throughout
and increase rapidly in size, often
growing two or three feet In height
and four to six feet in diameter, form
ing dense bushy mass of spiny
branches. BY the middle Of September
the exposed parts of the plants have
usually changed in color from u dark
green to a crimson or rose red.
The root, one-half inch or less in
diameter, is broken at the surface of
the ground by the force of the wind,
and the plant Is blown about as tum-
bleweed, scattering seed wherever IL
goes. The seed remains inclosed in the
paper-like perianth, and together with
this is loosely held in its place by num-
erous twisted hairs, so that IL is not
readily shaken loose from the plant. A
plant may, therefore, roll about all
winter and still retain some of its seed
until the following spring. When the
seed breaks loose from the plant, the
paper-lilSe flower surrounding II acts
as q sail, so that II may be carried a
long distance over the snow independ-
emily of the rolling plant. The seeds
would not be carried through the air
like thistle down, except In the case Of
very high winds, and they would not
he blown very far over bare ground.
"A single plant Of average size, two
70 three feet In diameter, and weigh
Ing two or three pounds ct maturity
when dry, Is estimated TO bear 40, 900
10 $1,000 seeds. Single plants have
been found six feet in diameter, weigh
ing about twenty pounds when thor
oughly dry, and estimated to bear
about 200, 900 seeds"
When seed crops are grown, unless
extreme care is taken in threshing and
cleaning the grain, where the Russian
thistle abounds, the seeds Of the this
tie are certain TO be present and to be
sown with the grain the following
spring. II the grain Is shipped to dis
tant localities, the seeds Of the thistle
go with II. IL the thistle is allowed 10
seed in our state, ita rapid spread is in
evitable.
The following recommendation as
to the manner OF combating the thistle
are given in the bulletin:
Sow no small grain that is not thor
oughly clean from weed seeds. The
seed OF this plant is as large as a mus
tard seed, aud may be known by the
fact that the embryo is spirally coiled,
In form like a small snail she'll
A good wire fence is of much advan.
tage.
Do not not break up any more OF the
native sod than you can tend and keep
clean.
Put all land sown TO wheat OF small
grain in such condition that the crop
may have the best possible start of the
weed
Do not allow scattering weeds 10
reach tumbling size. Where IL is
abundant NOW, rake and stack as you
would hay until the time comes when
you can burn IL.
The weed should be plowed under
when immature.
Never try to run a barren fallow
where this plant is abundant.
Patches Of the weed may be effectu.
ally destroyed, as follows: Instead OF
trying 10 run barren fallow, sow on
a fair quantity OF the small grain, say
rye, wheat or oats, pasture until late
In July or first of August, then tu,n
under thoroughly.
To keep land which Is yet free from
the pest from becoming seeded by the
tumbling weeds and free seeds, the fol-
lowing plan Is worthy Of trial: Sow
each spring strip Of sunAowers about
one drill width around each field. In
duce these 70 grow as dense aud strong
as possible. Leave the stalks standing
during the following autumn and win
ter, clearing the ground by Hre in ia.
spring.
We believe that each farmer can
readily keep his own farm clear of this
weed, provided II is kept on the waste
lands and roadside. For this purpose
we have state law with direct refer
ence TO this weed. Enforce II. II for
some reason II Ia Intellectual, the peo.
pie Of this state should find IL out
speedily, that II may be remedied.
Three oIrIs Drown.
AUBURN, Cal. Aug. lS.-Mrs. Alice S.
Eavey Cora johnson and Grace Lowell,