Jamestown weekly alert. [volume] (Jamestown, Stutsman County, D.T. [N.D.]) 1882-1925, 1895-08-01
BY CONCERTED ACTION.
In that Way Only Can the Rus
sian Thistle be Con-
.... trOlled.
Executive Relief Board Report
on Recent Trip in Cac-
tus Region.

Relief board, established for the destruc-
tion of the Russian thistle and the
French weed, has been prepared. This
relates to the recent trip OF the commits.
sion-oonsisting of Gov. All,n, OK .Sens-
tor Casey and W. H. Rowe of Monango
through the south central part Of
the state, and ls in full az follows:
Monday, July 22nd, the Executive Re.
lief board left this city for tour Of the
state most badly infested with Russian
thistle; the object OF the trip being to
observe tie thistle where it is doing the
most dsmagA to obtain information
from the people most interested in regard
to it's effect upon the soil and the coun-
try, and the best methods to be pursued
10 its destruction.
A large portion OF the counties of La
Moure, Dickey, Sargent and Ransom
was visited by the commission, and at
LaMoure, Monango, Glendale, Cakes,
Forman and Lisbon the commission met
with q large number of farmers inter.
ested in the destruction of the pest.
The most encouraging aspect of the
situation is the determined spirit of the
people and their confidence that they will
be able to control, and to large extent
exterminate, the thistle in that region
They realize that the only way that this
can be accomplished is by united action,
and rigid enforcement of the law.
This they arc apparently determined to
do, and the result is sure to justify them
in their position.
The officials in all the counties men
toned expressed willingness and a
desire to enforce the law, it public senti-
rnent would back them, and there is
little doubt that the people Of those
counties mean to give their officers
their hearty cooperation and support.
Senator j. w. Stevens, in converting
with the board, said that he believed
that tbs thistle could be subdued, as42
that he intended to try to form an asso-
citation in his township for the purpose
of enforcing the provisions of the law,
and he assured the members of the COM
mission that he would do all in his power
to aid in the work. There is no doubt
but that great good can be accomplished
through an organization Ct this KIND and
great results are looked for from Mr..
Stevens township.
That the thistle can be eradicated and
nearly exterminated, has been demon
strated by Mr. Enker, farmer living in
the central part OF Dickey county and in
the heart of the region most badly in
fected with the Russian thistle. 0
driving through the county it was no.
ticed that his farm was nearly free from
the thistle. Upon beirg questioned as
to the methods used, he said that only
by continual work was he able to keep
the weed subdued. He had about 40
acres of fine corn which was nearly free
from the thistle, and the roads around
his place showed that large amount of
work had been done to kill the weed. He
said that by diversifying his crops and
cultlvatlng the land he was able to keep
the thistle under control. IT the far
mers would band together and support
each other in the work it would be only
short time before they would be mas
ter of the situation.
In talking the matter over with differ
ent farmers many ideas we're advanced
and discussed in regard to preventing It's
spread. 1t was agreed by all that if the
"rollers" could be stopped it would be
much more easy to take care Of the land.
Some advocated fencing to stop the roll
ers; others thought that bitches answer
ed the purpose better. One thing is GER
tain and that is that the first and great
est work must be done in the high ways
and trails. In fields that have been al
lowed to go back the thistle will not
spread to any great extent, and will
gradually shake itself out. The only
thing necessary with such fields is to
look after the edges, where the thistle
will grow large and break away to seed
large area.
In regard to the best time to burn
there was diversity of opinion, but the
majority seemed to be in favor OF spring
burning. The reason given was that
there is very little danger of "rollers'
from fields, and if the thistles are allow
ed to stay all winter they hold the snow
aod retain moisture for the next seasons
crop. 1t Is claimed that with spring
burning the crop will get so much the
start OF the thistle that it will mature
before the thistle can do it much harm.
No doubt but this is true OF that portion
of the country where the thistle is the
worst, and every drop OF moisture is