The pioneer express. [volume] (Pembina, Dakota [N.D.]) 1883-1928, 1894-01-19
FRIDAY. JANUARY, 10 1894.
THE NEW THISTLE.

A0E NEW THISTLE.
In what a wonderful way does ma
ture provide for unexpected cmer.
gencies. Take, for instance, the ex-
listing situation In several OF the west
ern states. 1t has long been known,
Of course, that for the ordinary ass
the thistle-elther Canada or Scotch
furnished usful and nutritious food.
In agricultural neighborhoods there
is more or less prejudice against the
thistle, as there is in cultivated intel
lcctual circles against the ass. Efforts
have been made to exterminate the
thistle. but nature has successfully re-
sisted them up to date, and it seems
probable that the plant will flourish
80 long as the ass survives. The ST.
multaneous appearance, however,
during the last year Of such governors
as Waite Of Colorado, Lewclling Of
Kansas and Pcnnoyer OF Oregon has
raised doubt 10 the minds of
thoughtful men as to the sutficiency
of the ordinary thistle crop to supply
the extraordinary demand. At this
point pruvident nature steps in. The
emergency has oeen met by the up.
pearance in the northwest of a new
variety Of thistle, known as the Rus.
sian, which grows to four feet IN
height and seventeen feet in circum.
ference, as appears from a specimen
forwarded to the Agricultural Depart.
ment ut Washington. Manifestly
this is an effort of nature to make
provision for the new order of govern.
Ors now browsing over our prairies.
1t Is an endeavor to keep up the re.
lative proportion of the ordinary
thistle to the ordinary ass. -Four
feet by seventeen may not prove en-.
tirely adequate. but it is at least q
good beginning. 1t illustrates the
marvellous fertility and adaptability
Of nature.
We notice, however, that there still
exists In agricultural regions u preju
dice against the thistle and desire
for its determination. We suspect
that the feeling extends to the broOl
OF governors for whom the new varle
ty is intended as a special provision
This prejudice has found expression
IN DILL introduced by Senator Hans
brough, Of North Dakota, apprOpriat
ing 81 ,OOO,O 600 to the work extcrminat
ing the four by seventeen Russian
thistle. By the terms of the bill th.
secretary Of agriculture is authorized
to employ a large army.of males ant
females, adults and children, at ,
maximum compensation of 81 and ;
minimum Of 81 per day to extermIn
ate the thistle wherever found. Over
seers are to be employcd-of course
for what is an appropriation withou
an overseer?-at 90 per day to SCI
that the actual exterminators earl
their money. A copy Of this bill ha'
been sent by the chairman OF tn,
senate committee on agriculture tx
the secretary Of agriculture with al
inquiry as to whether 1t 'mcets tn,
emergency which seems to exist,
and this enquiry Secretary Morton
has answered with letter PROFOUND
ing some constitutional conundrum
Of the profoundest Importance as t,
the right Of the government to hir,
men, women and children at any rat,
Of wages to invade private propert,
for the purpose Of exterminatint
thistles, tobacco, huckleberries, night
blooming cereus, or any other product
OF nature, wholesome or unwhole
some. These conundrums he answers
laying his hand on his breast will
great solemnity, In the negative, be
cause 1t savors Of paternalism and Ii
"inutile"-which, we may say In pass
ing, is u much better word than ''use
less"
The Till seems to us, nothwith'
standing, to have its advantages,
chief Of which is that it will cOntri.
butte sensibly to the deficit in the
treasury which the present admins,
tration seems to look upon as the pro.
per aim Of all legislation and a con.
summation devoutly to be wished.
1t will also be good thing for large
families In the regions where the
thistle fiOurishes. 1t will furnish
employment for each member of the
family at 81 or e per day, with per.
haps w. pei. day for 1.-The old man.
with very little thistle seed and a
sulall plot Of ground we'll sown, whole
families would be able to make q
good living out Of it the year round.
1t would help to lift mortgages and
make homes happy. In some respects
1t would be better than calling seven.
ty cents worth OF silver a dollar,
This, however, is apart from the con.
sideration that the new order OF
governors requires a larger thistle
and a much more abundant crop than
formerly, when the ordinary thistle