Richmond planet. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1883-1938, 1905-12-09

ROOT SEaIN> Df CANADA THESTI. u.
will warrant a clearly defined denial
OF the sup. osi,iou that the root stalks
OF the Canada ;bIs,le have hioernat-
ing qualities
In reference 10 This matter Lyster n
Dewey b.r.u ot plaat industry,
Washington writes:
1T Is velI-lroVu Poet that when
conditions are uu.avoral le for grow b
the roots and yo tstslk yf many plants
remain practical dormant. This rs
true OF the Canada thistle. as Of many
other plants rroI acated in similar
manner. do nor think We could state.
however. with certainty that one por-
ton OF the roo,staih o. one set OF roots
remains dormant while others con
unue Co grow. 70 is sometimes thought
that while roots and root stalks arr
dormant tcey are weaker In vitality
and this Is the best time To attack
them. with a view OF ex;ormipati nr
the plants. IN general however. this
Is an erroneous superstition. when
these underground parts are dormant
they can withstand cultivation and
other rough treatmen. shat would Kill
them IL they were more active and I'm
condition 20 send zap roots az every
opportunity"
DR.. l.. II. paumel tCtan.st Iowa *
pertinent station. Ames. considers THAI
I the life OF the root stalk is limited. he
writes.
The length OF time that the Canada
thistle may retain lis vitality under
conditions mentioned has not been
definitely determined am OF the
opinion. however. thar &c cannot be
for great length OF time.
The case Of The alternating condi-
tions OF the cookie burr Is quite a dif-
ferent thing. The cookie burr seed "a
protected 10y a V ry hard coat. which
prevents the moisture rom getting in
10 the plant. The root stalk OF the
Canada thistle is neshy. and hence
cannot protect itself from unfavorable
conditions ia the same way as the
cookie burr. However. this is a sub.
ject worthy of Investigation"
Prof. A. NJ. Ten Eyck. agriculturis,
OF the Kansas experiment station. aft.
er calling attention to the alternating
qualities OF seeds in general. goes On
10 say:
"Wether portions or the Canada this.
tie root stalk lie dormant in this wav
waiting for a favorable condition 10
grow | am unable to say. Certain il is
that the roots OF the Canada thistle
have great deal of vitality and are
able TO start again and again. even
when the plants are cut on almost as
rapidly as the shoot appears al the
surface of the ground. Canada this
ties may be destroyed. however. by
hoeing them frequently and keeping
up the practice until the plants fail
10 start. | think that the reason that
they have not been fully killed in
some cases is due 20 the fact that they
are neglec, ed occasionally and allowed
TO grow sufficiently to revitalize the
roots"
G. w. Churchill. agricUlturist o. the
New York experiment station at Gene
va, says:
Il do not know of any experimental
data that would warrant definite con.
customs regarding the propagation OF
the Canada thistle. What practical
knowledge We have. however. il seems
~ me NtulA Ae ADVERSE 10 the tneOrN
propounded. We know that by keep
ing the Canada thistle cut OF so that
no growth is allowed for a season they
are rracti-9 ly eNterminated.
I'm the case OF the cookie burr men.
toned. 1 questioned If the fact that
some OF the see Is grow one season and
others do not. but vegejate in succeed
Ing years. is due to their being struc-
turally different. I think that IL lie
simply due TO the fact that rart OF the
OF the seed has been placed where con-
ditions are favorable TO growth and
others in unfavorable conditions The
same may be true with the Canada
thistle. except that II is propagated by
root stalks as we'll as seeds. / am sor
~ that / cannot refer you TO some
definite experiment that would settle
this question"