The Redwood gazette. [volume] (Redwood Falls, Minn.) 1873-1940, 1898-12-21
WAR AGAINST THISTLES.
How to Get the Better of a pestifer'
Gus plant.

The Canada thistle is one of the
most persistent weeds in existence.
Though commonly known as Cana
da' thistle, it is really a native of
Europe, being early introduced into
Canada, spreading to every portion
of the United States. Experiments
made at the Idaho Experiment sta
ton show that it is not as difficult
to get rid of them as has been sup
posed, although laws passed for its
destruction by several States have
been of no avail. It spreads slowly
compared with some weeds, due
principally to lack of fertility in the
seeds, most of the seeds being light,
only the heavier ones terminating,
and they are not carried far. But
it's progress by means of long white
root stocks is rapid, a large field be-
ing covered in that manner in few
years, and it then assumes a strong
hold on the SOIL 1t is perennial,
with slender stems, the leaves be-
ing prickly, the heads aggregated
on the top of the stem, while the
flowers are rose-purple. 1t may be
carried from one point to another in
hay, on the tops of freight cars or
by various other modes. Its best
friend is the INDECENT farmer, who
allows it to grow while his neigh
bors are endeavoring to get rid oft.
Liberal application Of salt Or ker-
osene, applied after the clump of
thistles are cut down, will destroy
them, but such methods are slow
and costly where a field is in their
possession. A piece of root stock
an inch long if left in the soil will
make a foundation for new crop
A piece two inches long will grow
eight or ten feet in six months, and
weighs three or four pounds, and
from each small piece from forty to
fifty heads will grow. An old rule
is to ''plow the land in June, drag
twice in July, pillow two or three in
ches deep two or three times in
August, and harrow each time
Any tool that will cut off the tops
the first, second and fourth weeks
of August will use them up, as they
cannot live if the tops are kept down.
Experiments made at the Illinois
Experiment station succeeded in
completely exterminating them,
which was done as follows: O cut
the thistles when in full bloom (July)
as close to the ground as possible,
and then pillow three inches deep,
sowing millet or Hungarian grass,
seeding heavily and then harrow.
(2) In September pillow the millet un-
der, and then seed heavily with rye.
Plow the rye under in May, and
then seed to millet or Hungarian
grass (or plant hoe crop, such as
cabbage or potatoes.) Continue the
close cultivation, being careful to
keep them cut down from July until
frost.
Not only should every thistle that
appears be cut down as fast as it
shows above ground, but the road
sides must be watched and kept
clean, as we'll as the fence corners.
Most farmers object to losing the
use of their land for a year, while
destroying thistles, and they conse-
quently grow crops on the land un-
til the thistles get ahead By judi
cious selection of crops the use of the
land need not be lost. By sowing
rye in the fall cultivating peas,
onions, early cabbage and early po-
tatoes, and then following the peas
with late cabbage or late potatoes,
or the growing of turnips as late
crop, using the hoe or wheel hoe, sc
as not to allow sprig of grass or a
weed of any kind to appear, the land
will be kept clean, good crops OBJ
tanned and the thistle destroyed in
two seasons. The late DR.. Alfred