The Montgomery advertiser., 1905-08-13
JAS. P. FER RRALL.

6 Bo u N . b0
 ity. There are two-~yery. remarkable circumstances connected with this pest. One Is that there is but one locality west of the Rocky Mountains where this plant is known to have existed previous to its appearance in the de- sert, and that, though existing there about a quarter of a century. has taken root nowhere till the reclamation of this desert region, though the seeds have been carried down the waters Of the Colorado all that time.
 The hemp plant is somewhat ssnsitive as to soil and it will not introduce itself save under favorable conditions. When the waters of the Colorado river were brought out into the desert. through the big canal, the floating seeds found just what they craved and they immediately pre- emted the region. And here Is the second remarkable circumstance. In Colorado, and elsewhere. where the wild plant Is found, 1t attains a height of two or three feet In the desert 1t grows from twelve to fifteen feet high.
 Another pestiferous plant which has developed remarkable peculiarities Is the salsota kali. or Russia thistle, as It is called. 1t is also known In many To- calities as 'tumbleweed." This Is one of the worst wheat and grain pests which the west has known. It first made its appearance in South Dakota In 1873. and has since spread in nearly every State in the Union. It was brought into this country from Europe in seeds brought for sowing, and it has cost the farmers of the country millions of dol lars fin damaged grain and in efforts to subdue 1t and to root 1t out.
 The plant is spherical in shape. thickly branched, and when dry is exceedingly light. It grows from a single slender taproot, which is easily broken. It Is then rolled or tumbled by the winds ! across the plains, scattering the seeds as 1t is carried along.
 The Russian thistle usually grows two or three feet high, with a diameter about equal to its height. In the Colo rado desert 1t grows ten or twelve feet high, with a like diameter. It has won a new name in the desert. where It Is termed inkweed." because 1t draws from the alkalitainted-soila substance-or or chemical which causes 1t to stain any object with which ie comes in contact This fact only makes 1t the more ob- noxious, as the weeds mixed with the grain when 1t is threshed only served to smut the grain and greatly reduce its market value.
 The MistRetoe Nuisance.
 Another peculiar vegetable pest Is the mistletoe. In that treeless. sum beaten land such shrubs as grow to any considerable height are highly prized for the shade they afford. During some of the greater floods of the Colo rado river. previous to the building of the reclamation canal. the river over flowed its western banks down near the Mexican line and great volumes of water started across the plains in the | AzI4 nI In making this journey inland the waters plowed a great channel through the desert, in places 150 feet deep. This channel, for the most part dry. ex- cept at intervals long apart. was given the name of New river. Along this channel have sprung up groves of mes quite, many of which have reached the estate of trees. These mesquite groves are highly prized. both for their well come shade and for their fruit. a bean shaped pod, which is used as food for both man and beast. It is here that the mistletoe Is making itself obnox- ious, for it is killing the trees of the groves.
 The parasitic plant fastens upon the branches and trunks of the trees, spreading with wonderful rapidity, till in a very short time the tree Is com pletely covered with plants which sap the life from the tree and very soon kill 1t. ~ .~@
 Some attempts were made to rescue the trees by tearing off the mistletoe. but so consistently did the parasite lay hold upon them that 1t was found who'll ly impracticabie to fight 1t in this man ner. A more effective way has been discovered. however. and one which promises eventually, to rid the trees of the pest. This is simply to irrigate the ground about the tree freely.
 Alfalfa is one of the most luxuriant and profitable crops of the region. about eight cuttings being obtained in a season, with a total yield of ten to fif- teen tons to the acre. when the third crop is well under way there appear over the fields great clouds of butterflies-mil- lions upon millions of them-little yellow creatures which settle down upon the alfalfa meadows and deposits billions of eggs upon the ten der young plants. These in a few days hatch out hungry hordes of green worms, which seems to satisfy their | appetites on the foliage of the field They feast upon the alfalfa, grow up and thrive till the stalks have been stripped and the fields are as black and desolate-looking as though a fire had swept over them. Then the worms go down into the ground, to appear a year latter in the shape of pretty butter | flies.
 The ranchers have accepted the sit
 uation and. being unable to devise a | remedy, they unresistingly give over the third crop of each year as a tribute