Vernon County censor. [volume] (Viroqua, Wis.) 1865-1955, 1906-11-14
CANADA THISTLE PEST.

| WleCOucln tuhb Anubs 70 AaocN ~ cAOob
systematically and with grim determi.
nation and united persistent effort.
Nothing less will prove effective. Tie
seriousness of the situation Is evident
from the fact that, In addition to gener-
al noxious weed legislation, the follow
ing states have special laws for the
Canada thistle: California, Connecticut,
Delaware, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa. Mary
land, Michigan, Nebraska, New Jersey,
Oregon and Washington. The Illinois
law, in many respects, commends itself
to the CENSOR as the best Of such laws.
As a whole. the laws Of Wisconsin
relative to ncxious weeds are strong,
mandatory and, with some minor
amendments and application, would,
as in the case of most laws, be sufficient
and Effective IL Loyalty obeyed and en-
forced by ali concerned Tn- experien 9
OF Manitowoc counry, this stats, should
prove valuable lesson to all couDsi+-
In Wisconsin, including our own county
of Vernon, Press reports assert that Ia
Manitowoc county, where the PEI. Can
ming industry is the main manufSa ture,
two of the ton or twelve pea factories
have closed, because of the spread Of the
Canada thistle and the impoesibilitv Of
separating the thistle seed from the peas.
Last year one factory firm spent up
wards of five Thousand dollars In the
attempt. Chairman Thomas Stevens,
Weed Commissioner Reinhert BentsoD,
Joseph Buchanan and other residents CT
the town Of Viroqua are active In their
advocacy of earnest and active effort to
check the spread of this pest, before the
Canada thistle gains Roadway, which
1t will be very difficult to overcome.
Some time ago the CENSOR published
letter from Commissioner Bentson 10
the effect that the Wisconsin Agricul.
tural station had found q successful
agent for the destruction Of mustard
and hoped, but had not yet proved, that
the same agent would be effective In
graduating the Canada thistle. Superin-
tendent Wilkins has succeeded IN find
ing chemical mixture, which viii alb
solutely kill the thistle foliage, but
awaits next spring to secure final evil
dence that 1t will destroy the plant it.
self OF course, continuous hoeing
throughout the year, for two or three
years, will suppress small patch, but
FIVE, ten, or twenty acres in possession
Of this pesf.ssrous weed and under crops
and cultivation, cannot be so redeemed.
The jointed roots laugh st kerosene,
salt, unleeched ashes, etc. Even IL a
patch be covered with straw, two or
three feet deep, plants will sprout up at
the edges Of the straw pile
Now as TO the steps to be taken: 1t
has been proposed and the CENSOR is
inclined to regard the suggestion az a
wise one-thst the Vernon county board
OF supervisors devote one day, during
the present session, to the discussion OF
the question at issue. 1t might be we'll
to appoint & special committee to report
at this session. Delays are dangerous.
The Illinois law would afford a good
basis for discussion and action We
are strongly of the opinion that, as In
Illinois, control by the county board Of
supervisors Is desirable for effective
action in the premises. The present
Wisconsin law provides for the ipfiic
tion Of severe money penalties for neg
lect of duty, upon both chairman and
weed commissioner; neither of whom
can do their duty. or effective work,
unless they have the practically unsni'
nous support and cooperation Of the
farmers of their respective townships
An educational campaign must Re start
el. Farmers must be convinced, not
only Of the serious danger confrontine
them but of their duty and self interest
Ia actively, earnestly and as q unit
jIining hands with their officers &c
eradicate the Canada thistle and oths
noxiouI weeds Isolated cases OF
farmers who do their duty vii. nc
suffice. One Canada thistle farm will
s9ed township. Legal penalties alone,
won't secure the end sought. Voluntary
etf"rt, based on conviction thas go,
81 z-nship and self interest demand
" o. worth ~, ,u.4ni mo7s
|
| u tG aatl - -, c",sr< !
a. small p0x. -vr, cluz-f IA
p=raoas, sacrifice for zoe eoO1
l. an individual farmer Cannot eff IF
the financial las, involved in I'll
surrender of an infested Canada thisti,
firm, for one or more seasons, urdel
saffisient and rigid restrictions 30 re
vent imposition, w,uld it not be wiz
sud profitable Z r the comm uuity to pro
vide the ways aud means, as In th,
quarantine Of contagious diseases allow
referred TOT Fiuaily the CENSOR woult
submit that cheerful, voluntary flor
aud cooperation is infinitely more IF
fective than compulsion and that on
ounce of prevention lie worth one pount
Of cure But the cooperation must b,
given or secured somehow and withou
fail II determination Of this pest is h
rAar.l& h.