American Falls press. [volume] (American Falls, Idaho) 1907-1937, 1918-03-05
KANSAS LIVE STOCK THRIVE
ON RUSSIAN THISTLE HAY
Cat Green and stacked. or Put In the
Slio. II Carries Cattle, Horses u
sheen Through the Winter.

The Russian thistle once de
apiaed OF an men. is now a blessing 20
he stockmen OF Western Kansas. who
have made n into hay, preserved Il Ia
siloa. aud la this winter Of feed scar
city. are carrying over their cattle.
horses and sheep with it.
on tho most progressive farms IN
Western Kansas D secs great ricks
Of Russian fhistles that were cut while
set green and stacked and often
herds " Of livestock are seen consum-
ing this feed with apparently as much
relish a. N lt were alfalfa hay, and
the stock thus fed seem 10 be as
thrifty az II fed on the best Of hay.
W. A. Boys, district agricultural
agent OF the United states government
and Of tho Kansas State Agricultural
college. says that as a result of the
extreme drought over western Kan
saa thousands OF tons OF Russian
thistlea we're put up as hay and en-
sllage aud ls enabling the farmers 70
get their stock through the winter In
good condition without this feed
much Of the stock would have been
put on the market last fall az a sacri-
flee.
Once Considered n Pest.
"The western Kansas farmer Is in
yincihlo." says Mr.. Boys. "He is not
easily discouraged by crop failures.
such experiences only sharpen his
wits and a way Is found to surmount
the difficulty.
The Russian thistle appeared In
western Kansas a number OF years
ago and Is considered a great pest In
cultivated fields during the growing
season. IN the fall and winter It Is
blown about by the winds, scattering
ita seed about over the entire coun-
try aud plllng up against fences
sometimes laying miles OF fence flat
on the ground. The thistle thrivcs un.
der dry conditions and usually makes
"a crop when cultivated crops fail
That ia what led the western KansaI
farmers 10 try thistles as a stool
feed Ia years when no other feet
Was produced u was either feed Rus
sian thlsties or sacrifice HIS stock.
Thlstles Are ~Plnch Hitter"
"In this way it was found hat cat
Tie wintored Well on thistle hay an
! buffalo grass. The Russian thistl
has thus become the pinch hitter 70
the western Kansas farmer.
"Ruusian thistle hay has been ie
' With varying experiences for IN
past fifteen years OF more. Some fai
mers place but little value on II q
\ feed. while others say they would q
soon have a ton OF good thistle hay Q
"a ton OF alfalfa. The experience
farmers has been that the value
thistle depends largely upon the tin
and manner OF harvesting. Tho be
success has been secured by cuttiI
the thlatles just before the stickers a
" pear and putting them into the stat
groon as soon after being cut as pc
sihle.
The Testimony OF Farmers
RI "Mr. G. W Nye. oakley. put up abo
a ninety tons OF thistle hay In the ma
Ia ner lust. suggested and reports q
.v hay coming out bright as No. !
b, falfa. Mr.. Nye is wintering twent
r FIVE head OF cattle on thistle hay al
re- straw and values his hay at $40 a To
ic Mr. =. G.. Prather. oakley. Is wi
30 tcrlng sixty head OF cattelo on thist
q has and wheat straw and says I
be- cattle never looked better al this tin
OF az year. MT. prather also rails
be- some alfalfa and rates thistle hay
ID about % per cent of the value of
b falia for feed.
mfr. Fred Rensmeyer. Wakecney.
by Nintcrlng 32 head of cattle on not
b. INK but Russian thistle hay and so
ln thcy are in as good condition as VIII
az fed lhp usual feeds grown I'm weste
W Kansas Mr. Rensmeyor says his q
ly no clean up tho thistle hay with ne
'e waste he is so well pleased W.
D this feed thar ho will put up thistle b
hereafter even when other feeds q
lN raised A good crop can usually
oi harvested during the summer after
ne crop of small grain has been tah
Fe ofi.
Russian Thistle as Silage
Elm 1918 b. J. Cullhert of Wall.