Fulton County tribune. (Wauseon, Ohio) 1883-1925, 1916-05-12

In the states north of the Ohio river,
probably no plant bears such a bad
reputation as does the so-called
Canada thistle. This marvelously
pr1ckly 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
gra1n-grOwing sections of the north
west. Canada thistle, or simply
thistle" has been condemned in the
laws of 25 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 it be the sand bur of
the southern coastal plain.
The unpopularity of Canada thistle
is due largely to it's unsightIy 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, and
others; nor is it as destructive to the
grass in pastures and meadows as are
a number of almost insignificant little
weeds whose very existence is often
unsuspected. When left to itself, how
ever, the thistle spreads rapidly, un
til in few years it will more or less
completely occupy the land, rendering
it unfit for farming purposes anC
sharply depreciating its market value
The soil upon which Canada thistles
! flourish is apt to be of good natura
fertility, and it usually pays to reclaim
thistTe-infested fields.
The cause of the remarkable vitality
of Canada thistle and the point tha
distinguishes it from other prickl!
plants that are commonly mistaken
| for it is the long cord-like perennial
root. This root penetrates the soil tt
| a depth of to Is inches or more, ant
gives rise at frequent intervals t.
| 1eafy shoots. Thus it will often b.
| found that an entire patch of thistle
is attached to one root, and is in real
ity but one plant The root is exceed
ingly hardy, and can live over winte
or through prolonged drought in
dormant condition. Pieces of the roo
that are broken off by plow or cult
vator and carried to other places vii
await warm, moist period, and the
begin to send up leafy shoots, thu
establishing a new patch forthwith
! If the leafy stems are cut down, otE
ers will be sent up to take their, place
and this process may be repeated froI
two to eight times before the root bt
comes exhausted. In most localitie
the Canada thistle does not produc
many good seeds, as the male an
female flowers are on separate plants
and not all of the female flowers pr(
duce viable seeds. Nevertheless, tn
seeds are frequently hidden away i
straw and hay, and are sometime
present in grass and clover seed an
in seed oats. AS each seed is equil
ped with a feathery plume, a sma
patch of thistles may serve to infest
whole neighborhood.
The point that must be kept in mint
therefore, in fighting Canada thistle
is that it is the roots, rather than tn
tops, that must be killed Simply Gu
ting off the tops a few times has muc
the same effect as pruning an app
tree. But if the tops are cut off dee
ly and frequently, the root must evel
tually SURROGATE through lack of leave
Bearing this in mind, any of the fo
lowing methods will be found effec
i've:
% Summer faIoW.-Most suitab
for one-half acre or more of thoroug
ly infested land, from which lit
revenue could be expected anywa
Plow deep in the fall, exposing tt
roots to the frost Harrow in tt
spring to kill seedlings of annu
weeds. Let the thistle grow until tt
first blossoms appear (about June
or until there is danger of other wee(
going to seed. Plow shallow, an
from then until frost use disk harho
} often enough to prevent thistle leave
from making over inches of growt
If the thistles get over inches hig
at any time, all the previous work wi
be undone. This applies to all met
DDS. Follow during second year vii
a cultivated crop, giving it a lit
extra cultivation and hoeing out
: dividual thistles.
: (2) Partial faIow.-(a) For gra
fields or old meadows Cut the crC
, early for hay, if necessary, to prevel
thistles from seeding. Allow thistl
to grow for four to six days, then plo'
and proceed as in l for remainder
, season.
l (b) For cultivated ground Allo
I thistles to grow until first blossom
, appear Plow shallow When thistl
are about inches high, disk thoroug
: ly and plant late smother crops,
1 below.
(3) Smother crops. : Combinatit
: Of above; a good method on ri'
ground. Cut grass or grain early f
:. hay as in "a above. Plow shallo
= four to six days later. Leave for TO
to six days more and disk thorough
; Then SOW smother crop of buckwhe
= (four-fifths peck), rape (broadca
sixth-eighths pound) millet (thre
= fourths peck, or fodder corn in chez
h rows. After the crop is off, ke'
l. Properly indignant.
It Son enthusiastically Yes,
n ther, have fully made up my mil
o to adopt music as career. I feel
If is the onsF one In which my soul C,
q find its flIl expansion" Father q
@ dignantlyj Very well, sir; If you W
persist in your evil courses, instead
IS following vOur father in an hone