The Logan Republican. [volume] (Logan, Utah) 1902-1924, 1915-06-22
War on The
Canada Thistle

two years and does not have the
creeping root stalk as does the Can.
ada thistle. Some farmers here have
taken prickly lettuce, SOW thistle and
similar plants, to be this weed, but
they are very different.
The Canada thistle will grow in
pastures or in fields Of any other
farm crop.
Method Of Warfare
Like the great German empire 1t
has provided itself with immense
quantities of reserve food, which is
stored in its monstrous underground
root system, called rootstalks. This
constitutes its great strength and
makes possible its mighty endurance.
The plant does not have to depend on
seeding each year for its propaga-
ton but will live on indefinitely with.
out this process. The great root
system has power to send up new
shoots or plants from a thousand life
giving centers. There are definite
cases where a single seed has sprout.
ed and within two years, through the
root system alone, spread to cover
/ twenty square feet Of surface. This
monster feeds so heavily on the soil
and covers the ground so completely
thot no other plant has any chance
Of surviving. 1t is the horror of all
farmers who know It.
When to Strike
Just as an opposing army becomes
weakened after long hard fight, so
this our enemy exhausts much of its
strength by producing more plants.
This then Is the time to strike, Just
as the plant first begins to bloom,
when 1t has exhausted much Of its
reserve power. Plow up the plants,
cutting about two to three inches un.
heaps and burn. Follow this opera.
ton with constant shallow cultiva.
ton so that every shoot sent up from
the root stalk Is destroyed before II
has a chance to gather in through its
leaves any new store Of food. Re-
member that every ounce OF reserve
food is first manufactured in the
leaves of the plant, then translocated
to these root stalks and there stored
Remember also that every one Of
those new shoots sent UP from the
root stalks must obtain every grain
, OF its food from this storehouse. What
, then is the logical thing? If we would
starve the enemy out we must either
confiscate his reserve food supply oil
prevent him from taking in any new
material. Usually the latter meth
= cd Is the safer and more economical
even though the time is extended.
What have we done then by cut
ting off the plant with a pillow JUS
below the soil surface We have Gu
off the only source of food supply
But to conquer we must prevent tn
enemy from building or manufactur
ing plants. We must then cut oil
/ every new shoot as II makes its al
pearance at the surface before 1t ha
time to gather in any new food. 1t
needless to say that we should neve
let the plant go to seed.
Some farmers Of the Norther
States report success with variou
chemicals, but their experiences di
fer widely. Greater success nas bee
had with sodium arsenite than wit
any other chemical. II Is applied
the rate OF one and half to tw
pounds to fifty.two gallons Of water
II will destroy all other vegetatio
and will kill animals, II allowed
eat the poisoned vegetation.
II Most farmers are content to us
the brain and Drawn method descri'
ed above. II is always safe and
sure as the effort put into It.
II An Appeal to Reason
II II is not necessary to appeal
strong terms to the live industriou
| public spirited farmer or bushes
man, All such need are the fact
presented. No good sound minde
man will sit by and leave this fgl
to his neighbors. All must work I