The ranch. [volume] (Seattle, Wash.) 1902-1914, 1908-12-01
ABOUT THlSTLES.
Editor The Ranch:

ABOUT THIsTLEs.
Editor The Ranch:
Please give treatise upon the
thistle Canada or others-how many
and what varieti ties, and description
so the most obtuse may identify
them; how to exterminate, etc.
MRS. S. w. DOUGLAS.
South Prairie, Wash.
In reply to the questions of your
correspondent concerning the Canada
thistle, l would report as follows:
There are in the State of Washing
ton a number of plants which are
called thistles, which are frequently
of Importance to the farmer as weeds
upon his land: Of these the Canada
thistle is the most serious pest; the
scattered over the state, and in Ger
tain regions the Russian thistle is a
serious pest.
The Canada thistle may be recog
nized by the fact that it has small
heads and underground stems, which
run through the soil, sending up this
ties at frequent intervals. The Can
ada thistle is what we call peren
NAL, that is, it lives for period Of
years, passing through the winter I'm
derneath the ground and sprouting uI
fresh every year. 1t bears heads OF
flowers just as the other thistles, but
fortunately for the farmer seldom
produces many good seeds. After
however, it has once started in spot
it is very difficult to eradicate. Be
cause of these underground stems, II
is not possible to destroy it by ordi
nary means. The principle upon which
it must be fought is to keep the tops
so thoroughly and conscientiously cut
down that the plant will not be able
to make food and the underground
parts will be starved out. This means
very careful watching, for in very
few days after cutting, the shoots
will have come out, green leaves will
have spread themselves open to the
sunlight and new food will begin tC
be formed. If, however, the farmer
is conscientious in his fight against
the pest and keeps it down, after a
year or so he will be able to conquer
these underground parts and the weeC
will be eradicated. I should think
that many farmers in Washington who
have sheep would be able to assist
themselves materially in the fight il
they should salt the ground in the
patch of thistles and put the sheep in
upon them, but even under these cir
cumstances they should watch the
patch carefully and see that all tops
are removed
The Bull, or Scotch, thistle is very
frequently sent to me with the QueS
ton as to whether or not it is the
Canada thistle. The Bull thistle has
much larger heads than the Canada
thistle and does not spread by under
ground stems. 1t is biennial, thai
is, lives but two years before seed
ing, and can be eradicated by moving
before it blooms.
Some farmers mistake the Russian
thistle for the Canada thistle, but this
is a very different plant. In fact, il
is not thistle at all, but is tumble
weed. 1t gets the name thistle from
the fact that it is spinous. 1t is ar
annual, that is, must grow from the
seed every year, and it can be eradicat
ed by moving or cultivating up be
fore it goes to seed. In Eastern Wash
ington in wheat fields it is possible tc
destroy this pest after harvest, for II
usually does not bloom until a week
or so after the wheat has been taker
off. A little care in not allowing il
to become thoroughly seeded down In
a piece of land and in destroying the
swaths of it which pile up along fence
rows will prevent this from being a
serious pest in any cultivated land.
Almost any spinous plant may be
mistaken by some one for thistle
but these three are the most common
in Washington and the ones which
we most often must deal with.
will be glad to give assistance on the
destruction of these or any Other
uood Of ouu t;,,oa You're firmly