Freeland tribune. (Freeland, Pa.) 1888-1921, 1899-05-22

there is no longer any doubt as to the
utility of the weed.
Five years ago the Russian thistle
first made its appearance in South Da-
kota and scientists declared that the
agricultural prosperity OF the whole
country was threatened by the weed.
The stock range was soon alive with
the new growth and the whole State
became vast seed bed for the thistle.
There was much genuine alarm AMONG
stockmen and farmers. The fall winds
carried the seeds to the four parts of
the compass and the extraordinary vi
tality of the plant was evidenced by
vast beds of thistles appearing in spots
so barren as to refuse to yield other
forms of vegetation. The rapidity
with which the growth overspread the
whole country between the Missouri
river and the mountains caused many
students of agriculture and Ctock rails
ing to declare that this vast domain
would again revert to the wild things
of the prairie.
The Department of Agriculture at
Washington sent out men to investI-
gate the situation and many Govern
ment bulletins were issued on this,
"the greatest of evils to agriculture. p"
A quotation from the agricultural de-
partment report of 1898 reads: "There
is no doubt that the plant will spread
throughout the whole great plains and
still farther east, destroying large
portion of the wheat-producing region
of the United States"
In spite of this prediction of awful
calamity from the highest sources of
agricultural information, this same
Russian thistle is filling long-felt
want in Northwestern, Nebraska. The
thistle in dry state very much re-
sembles alfalfa and the experience of
farmers and stock men is that it is
more sought by stock than is any other
wild hay.
AS fuel, the thistle is not to pe de
spised. Two bales of thistes are de.
clared to equal cord of wood in point
of heat, and four bales equal ton OF
coal. The cost of the weed is nothing,
as it can be secured by tons in any
draw on the prairie, where it has been
tumbled by the winds. The manner
in which the weed is used as fuel is
novel, but successful.
A vessel of heavy sheet iron, formed
like the old-fashioned wash boiler, is
used for the two-eyed cooking stove.
The thistle is thrown into this and
tramped down as hard as possible
Then the vessel is inverted over the
stove in which it is to be consumed.
The absence of air IN the vessel pre-
vents the flames from extending too
rapidly in thai direction and the fuel
drops gradually into the body of the
stove as the fire burns it's way into the
mass. A vessel full OF the weed will
heat large room for several hours TO
very comfortable temperature.
Louis P. Cummins is one of the
largest farmers and stock raisers in
Nebraska. His ranch and farm is
near Rushville, Neb, and he is presi-
dent Of the grange of that section. In
speech before the organization few
days ago, in which he had been re-
quested to give the members the bene-
fit of his experience in feeding thistle
"My first use of the thistle was last
winter, when fed it alike to horses
and cattle. Though at first little shy
they soon learned to eat it with avid
ity. I found that cattle of all ages,
including the young calf just begin
ming to eat hay, will eat tho thistle
and grow fat on the weed. During
the present winter my horses and
cattle have fed mainly on thistles
gathered from my own place, which L
started as fodder early in the fall.
The stock even fed to advantage on
thistles as they stood in the field, but
L believe that much of the nutritious
element of the weed is lost by leaving
it in the weather. When in February
the stock could no longer feed on the
thistles in the field, because of the
weather, began foddering them from
thistles, which I had cut and stacked
in the open on August 81, 1897. 1t is
proper to note that this date is rather
late for harvesting thistles for fodder,
as the weed becomes old at that time
and the thorns become brittle enough
to stick severely. During the present
winter L have fed thistles to a large
number Of young stock Of all kinds
and find them the equal of anything
L can purchase. The stock seems to
find something especially appetizing
nabout the thistle and lick the very
chaff from the ground. AS a healthful,
milk-producing feed I believe the
thistle has no superior. :
''I do notscontend that the thistle
will become substitute for other feed
for stock, but i do believe it will be
more generally, adopted than any other
food in the. Western States. Its pro
life growth commends it in the first
place. STILL on deserted lands it does
not thrive as in cultivated state. I