The Fargo forum and daily republican. [volume] (Fargo, N.D.) 1894-1957, 1917-07-28
CANADIAN THISTLE
tsy l. 3. WaIdron. Aari euturaI coIIsae, n. Q.

The Canada thistle is a native Of
Europe but is now found as a vicious
weed in portions of Canada and in
all the northern United States. 1t
has become a pest in North Dakota,
especially in the eastern portion.
The plant is a true thistle and per-
sists from year to year by means Of
underground stems, often called
roots, which serve to propagate the
plant in small areas. The under
ground stems extend horizontally in
every direction and send up large
number of green plants above
ground. The thistle is known by its
erect above-ground stems, to feet
high bearing lobed and very spiny
leaves. The heads of rose-purple
flowers are one-half or more inches
in diameter and clustered at the ends
Of the branches.
Besides spreading by underground
stems, the plant is distributed by
means of seeds. Only comparative
ly few good seeds are formed but the
number is sufficient to spread the
plant over a wide territory. The
seed is carried mainly by the wind.
Other means Of seed distribution is
by water, threshing machines, and
as an impurity in farm crop seeds.
Principles of Eradication.
In Graduating the Canada thistle 1t
Is absolutely essential that the
above-ground portions of the plant
be kept destroyed until the entire
plant, root and stock, ceases to con-
tain life. Only when this principle
is followed out can one hope to be
entirely rid of the pest. An entire
1anlr 0P - -
principles is the main cause for the
numerous failures in combating the
pest. If thistle determination is per-
sisted in Systematically for an entire
growing season, it will be rare
thing for the plant to appear the sea-
son following. a
Upon most Of the farms in North
Dakota where the thistle has obtain
ed a foothold, the weed is found in
patches. These patches may be a
few feet or several rods in diameter.
In Graduating patches of this kind it
Is suggested that the land be put in
to cultivated crop-corn for inc
stance, to be cultivated in two direc-
tions. A cultivator provided with
sweeps rather than with ordinary
cultivator teeth will be found the
more efficient.
Good cultivation will destroy most
of the plants but hand hoeing will
be necessary for the occasional
plants which escape the cultivator.
After the corn, or other crop, has re-
ceived it's seasons cultivation it will
be necessary to go through the field
once a week with a hoe and destroy
any thistle growth that appears above
ground. This method, persistently
followed, will destroy the Canada
thistle. The writer knows this to be
true by personal first-hand know
ledge.
If the thistle areas cover .consid-
cradle portions of ground, it may be
well to attack the pest by a different
method. 0.f
smotherins Process.
The thistles may be allowed to
come to full bloom. They should be
allowed to dry and burned as
soon as possible. The land should
then be well plowed, and disced and
narrowed weekly, If necessary until
1t is time to sow winter rye. An
early seeding Of winter rye should be
seed, per acre. After the rye crop is
removed the land should be fall
plowed. If any thistles appear the
land should be put into corn the year
following. A second, (spring) plow-
ing can be given the field before
planting the corn II deemed advis-
able The few thistles remaining can
easily be eradicated by following the
first method outlined in this article.
If small patches of thistle are on
the farm there Is an advantage in
sailing stock on them but this
method is to be used in conjunction
with the hoe. There is no method of
spraying which can be considered