The Ravalli Republican. [volume] (Stevensville, Mont.) 1894-1899, 1897-09-01
THE RUSSIAN THISTLE.
Caution from the Commissioner OF
Agriculture.


Agriculture.
Helena, Aug. 16.-In the annual
reports for this bureau for the years
1895 and lSO6, attention was directed
to the fact that ithe Russian thistle
had obtained a strong ;foothold in
many counties Of the state sand I'll
lengthy and complete history Of the
plant was given. A large number Of
illustrated circulars were printed
and sent out to county officials, and
ITO all section fOrcmcn and station
agents along the railroad lines, Civ
ing description Of this noxious weed,
it's habits and method OF c%tcrmina~
tion. Railroad officials and many
residents Of the state made Il vigor-
GUS and determined effort for it's cx-
termination, but reports received by
this bureau during the last few
weeks would indicate that the weed
As spreading, land Threatens ~somc Of
ktAc f;tir2st PORTIONS Of the state.
The Russian Thistle at ;3iskt .ap-
krcared in this neutrality-suspicious.
kof the railroads.. and ~ '0r near sta
t;ons. more espcciallyjinnetion, points.
The seed is brought in Montana in
cmigrant cars, in feed for stock, and
in impure grass seed from infected
states. AS these sources Of intro
| duction cannot be removed. the only
thing to be done is to destroy the
ksecds, wherever fwumtl. .a.- @.
One Of the greatest difficulties in
the way of its eradication, at present
lies in the. inability Of the people to
| idcntifWit. The name is somewhat
misleading, and a thistle is looked
for, when in fact this weed has few
1Nf tthc characteristics Of the COM
mon, thistle. but bears Il much nearer
resemblance to the plant known as
|.s'Tun,'Dl ezweed." 1T is also not i'm
probable, thea at,t}3e Canada ttllistle has
becn in some i!nStancc mistaken for
! the Russian ftll:Stle. The .nlalaagcrs
OF the yariolas lines OF rnail1oan in
the state have 'been requested to
make Il diligcnt and searching inves-
titiation along the lines Of their road
and destroy it wherever found. They
have also been requested to notify
FJlae owners OF land adjacent to places
infected, and the county officials in
each county where it is found.
The iollowingIis brief outline Of
tac report OF Il competent botanist
who made a tour of observation to
locate the existence or this I'm d
other noXous weeds. 's'My oDscrva-
tions were confined to the lands i'm
mcdiatcly adjacent to the railroads,
] first found the Russian thistle
growing in great nesanbcrs in and
around Missoula; found none west of
Missoula as Tar as Thompson Falls
Did not visit the Bitter Root valley,
but it will soon be infected from
| Missoula if the plants are not de-
stroycd there. Found it growing at
Livingston, not plenty, but evidently
spreading. Found it in great num-
bers in Unnabar, from which point
it Will be carried into the Nationa!
Park. Found it also growing at Bill
lings and Great Falls. Found mono
between Fort Hutord and kalispel.
Will make further investigation and
report later
1T is also reported as growing alone
the line Of the Utah and Northern
Railroad in Silver Bow and Beaver
head counties.
J This is one 0: the most perniciou
weeds this country has ever knoWr
and no effort should be spared to dc
stroy it. 1t has already become ;
menace to the welfare Of .the ~statc
by the ,rapdty and density @fiit
growth it smothcrs and destroys;ul
other forms of vegetation and rapid
ly cXilausts the fertility Of the soil
Some conception Of the dangerou
character Of this noxious weed Cal
be formed when it is known that il
it's native home on the borders o
the Caspian sea it has compelled th'
entire abandonment Of cultivatin!
wheat, barley, flax and other cereal
: in large areas. This circular i
issued for the purpose of directing
attention to the dangerous ciiaractc
: Of this weed and urging upon every
one the secessity Of prom pt"and Wig
2 orons action for its destruction. I'll
S tseeds arc now about rrcady to ripe
and it is suggested that the sures
and safest plan is to destroy tn
weeds by pouring coal oil over the1
I, and burning them.
!, J. II. CALDERzJEAD,
Commissioner.
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