The Celina Democrat. (Celina, O. [Ohio]) 1895-1921, 1916-05-19


Canada thistle. This marvelously
prickly plant abounds in grain fields,
pastures, and meadows throughout the
Central west, and is locally common in
the northwestern states 1t is found
In parts of West Virginia, Kentucky,
and Missouri, and of late years has
been increasingly troublesome In the
graln-growing sections Of the north
west Canada thistle, or simply
thistle" has been condemned in the
laws Of % states and at least 100 local
communities, no other three plants to-
gether having received so much unfav-
orable attention. Certainly no plant
is more generally and heartily dis.
liked, unless 1t be the sand bur Of
the southern coastal plain,
The mpopularity Of Canada thistle
is due largely to It's unsightly appear
ance and exceedingly spiny leaves
and to its persistent resistance to eX-
termination. Under ordinary cropping
systems and with reasonable care, the
thistle is at worst disagreeable nuis
ance. Generally speaking it does not
injure the quality Of farm products
excepting hay, as much as do quack
grass. wild onion. wild mustard. ana
others: nor is Il as destructive to the
grass in pastures and meadows as are
a number of almost insigrifcant little
weeds whose very existence is often
unsupported. When left to itself, how
ever. the thistle spreads rapidly, I'M
I'll in few years it will more or less
completely occupy the land, rendering
It unfit for farming purposes and
sharply depreciating its market value,
The soil upon which Canada thistles
flourish is apt to be Of good natural
fertility. and it usually pays to reclaim
thistle-infested fields.
The cause of the remarkable vitality
of Canada thistle and the point that
distinguishes it from other prickly
plants that are commonly mistaken
for it is the long cord-like perennial
root. This root penetrates the soil to
a depth of to - inches or more, and
gives rise at frequent intervals to
leafv shoots. Thus it will often be
found that an entire patch of thistles
is attached to one root, and is in real
ity but one plant. The root is exceed
ingly hardy, and can live over winter
or through a prolonged drought in a
dormant condition. Pieces of the root
that are broken off by plow or cult-
vator and carried to other places will
await a warm, moist period, and then
begin to send up leafy shoots, thus
establishing a new patch forthwith.
If the leafy stems are cut down, 9th
ers will be sent up to take their place,
and this process may be repeated from
two to eight times before the root be-
comes exhausted. In most localities
the Canada thistle does not produce
many good seeds, as the male and
female flowers are on separate plants,
and not all of the female flowers pro-
duce viable seeds. Nevertheless, the
seeds are frequently hidden away in
straw and hay and are sometimes
present in grass and clover seed and
in seed oats. As each seed is equip
ped with a feathery plume, a small
patch Of thistles may serve to infest a
whole neighborhoOd.
The point that must be keSt in mind,
therefore, in fighting Canada thistles
is that it is the roots rather than the
tops, that must be killed. Simply cut
ting off the tops a few times has much
the same effect as pruning an apple
tree. But if the tops are cut off deep
ly and frequently, the root must even
tually suffocate through lack of leaves.
Bearing this in mind, any of the fol
lowing methods will be found effect
i've:
~ Summer falIow.-Most suitable
for one-half acre or more of thorough
ly infested land, from which little
revenue could be expected anyway.
Plow deep in the fall, exposing the
roots to the frost. Harrow in the
spring to kill seedlings of annual
weeds. Let the thistle grow until the
first blossoms. appear (about June y
or until there is danger of other weeds
going to seed PlOw shallow, and
from then until frost use disk harlow
often enough to prevent thistle leaves
from making over inches of growth.
II the thistles get over inches high
at any time, all the previous work will
be undone This applies to all meth
DDS. Follow during second year with
cultivated crop, giving it a little
extra cultivation and hoeing out in
dividual thistles.
(2) Partial faIIow.-(a) For grain
fields or old meadows: Cut the Gro
early for hay, if necessary, to prever
thistles from seeding. Allow thistles
to grow for four to six days, then plow,
and proceed as in l for remainder of
season.
(b) For cultivated ground: Allow
thistles to grow until first blossoms
appear. Plow shallow. When thistles
are about inches high, disk thorough
ly and plant late smother crops, as
below.
(3) Smother crops. - Combination
of above; good method on rich
ground. Cut grass or grain early fo~
hay as in "a above. .Plow shallc''
four to six days later. Leave for four
to six days more and disk thoroughly.
Then SOW smother crop Of buckwheat
(four-fifths peck, rape broadcast
sixth -eighths pound) millet (three-
fourths peck), or fodder corn in check
rows. After the crop is off, keer
Properly Indignant.
Son enthusiastically Yes, IA
ther. have fully made up my mind