The pioneer express. [volume] (Pembina, Dakota [N.D.]) 1883-1928, 1903-11-20

Z
psstr6yino canad a SThlstlss. IN
4 Whatever WIN effectually exclude
the plant from the light ana air will
destroy Il. Thissmay be done by plows
ing. In some soil, and In others BY q
close grass sod. Flowing. II repeated
frequently in soils where the root does
not descend beyond the reach Of the
blowing, will, in dry seasons, always
destroy the thistle, and often In moist
ones. In soils which are light. deep.
rich, friable. and, Of course, permeable
to the air, and are in some measure
always moist, blowing will always fail.
Wherever dense sod can be formed,
the thistle may be destroyed by seed
Ing. The grasses. wherever they are
adapted to the purpose, will be found
the easiest means Of destruction. al
though not SO rapid as blowing, hoe
Ing, sailing or burning, where these
latter are available:
In all uplands, where the soil is Of
q depth admitting the root to be
reached and affected in its whole ex-
tent BY the pillow, hoe, fire or salt, the
thistle may be destroyed by these
means, and they will be found the
most rapid ones. In all bottom lands
where the root descends deep and the
soil permits access Of air, neither the
plow. hoe, fire nor salt will destroy
the thistle; here the grasses should
be applied, and will be found the best
destroyers. Moving will destroy those
parts Of the thistle which have thrown
up towering stalks and will not in
the least affect those which have not.
Moving should take place when the
plant Is in bloom.
Whatever limits the thorough ap-
plication of the means Of & :struction
Will proportionally diminish success.
Hence it will be found difficult, in
very stony grounds ever to eradicate
the thistle; the plow cannot eftectually
reach its roots and such ground is
rarely a good grass bearer. Salt and
sheep, with the scythe, will be found
best for stony grounds. In grounds
filled with stumps, where the soil is
rich and will grow dense sod, the
grass Will be best, and in such the
plow should not be used, as It will not
efectually reach all the roots. Fences
that obstruct the application of the
plow or hoe should be removed. II it
be desirable to destroy the thistle by
the grasses 1t will be found best to
make the land rich by manure. This
Will force the grass and enable 1t more
readily, by vigorous growth, to kill the
plant. And in the application Of all
remedies care should be taken to re-
duce the soil by proper cultivation to
q fine filth, that all the seeds of the
thistle in the ground may terminate
and not lie dormant. The seed is very
hardy, and escapes all the ordinary
means Of destruction, except fire.
Ambrose Stevens.
Thomas sIaa. 's'''''
| Bulletin 90, Of the Rhode Island -Ex-
pertinent station has this to say in
favor Of Thomas Stag: Basic Stag
meal (Thomas Stag, also known as
Thomas phosphate and odorless phos.
phate) is an illustration of q phos-
plate which contains practically no
soluble phosphoric acid and yet is es.
sentially as efficient as soluble phos-
phoric acid, at least upon the granite
soils Of Rhode Island. In a trial ex.
tending over several years it has given
splendid results upon all kinds of
crops, both Immediately upon it's ap-
plication and in later years. This is a
so-called "fourlime" phosphate. It is
q waste product obtained in the man
ufacture Of steel from iron phosphate,
and is widely employed in Europe with
most excellent results. It Is but little
known in the United States as yet,
and is not found in the ready-mixed
commercial fertilizers, owing to the
fact that the extra lime which it con.
tains would be likely to liberate some
Of the ammonia Of the usual fertil.
lzers If they were to become moist. 1t
can be mixed with nitrate of soda and
with muriate or sulfate Of potash with.
out fear Of loss, thus producing a
complete" and most efficient manure
It is an ideal source Of phosphoric acid
for the sandy and acid soils Of this
state. The basic Stag meal contains
from 16 to 20 per cent Of phosphoric
acid. At the present time little Of this
Stag is obtainable in the United States
At Fl