Warren sheaf. [volume] (Warren, Marshall County, Minn.) 1880-current, 1918-01-30
THE SOW THISTLE
BY o. NJ. Kiser.

! (By O. NJ. Kiser.)
The. SOW thistle menace of the Red
River Valley is problem that threat
ems the future of our Northwestern
, Minnesota FARMS Success in crop man
, agement demands reduction of the
trouble from weeds to minimum.
Each year the sow thistle is becoming
; more firmly established on Northwest
ern Minnesota farms, and is spreading
rapidly to areas that before have been
uninfested. The problem of SOW thistle
control is not for the individual farmer
alone, but collectively for all farmers
throughout the valley. This is an issue
of general public interest not only that
increased production may be expected,
but also that the vast areas of unim
proved land may be more of an attrac-
ton to a prospective farmer. An at
that the future will mean ample reward
for labor expended. If effective means
for the control of this pest are not
! Forthcoming the abandoned farm of
the Red River Valley will be an alto:
gether too common term This has a
direct application to land values and
! the future prosperity Of agricultural in
terests throughout the valley
The Northwest Experiment Station
has urged all to recognize that the sow
thistle is at present the biggest farm
management problem in the valley.
!
the valley must be aroused to the ser
iousness of this pest and urged to lend
their support for effective menas of con-
troll. Our present state weed laws do
not supply sufficient means for the con-
troll of the SOW thistle.
The complete eradication of the SOW
thistle in the Red River Valley is task
=, that is now beyond human power. The
remedy for the SOW thistle on individ-
ual farms is both in eradication and
control The SOW thistle belongs to that
class of weeds that perpetuates itself
by means of. seeds and underground
root stalks. To prevent the plant from
seeding is an easy means of control but
thoroughly to eradicate the pest from
the farms means that these under
ground root stalks must be cleaned out.
The underground root stalks are de-
pendent on the green leaves above
I ground to supply food: To prevent
these leaves from forming will in time
starve the underground root stalk On
smaller areas this can be effectively
! done by various kinds Of covering. On
larger areas, as is cOmmOn,with the SOW
thistle in the Red, River Valley, bare
summerfallow has proved to be the only
effective means Of controlling this weed.
!, The Manitoba Experiment Station
after several years of experience with
the SOW thistle is now practicing the
summer fallow method throughout the
province as the best means for control
To summerfallow is a practice not un'
known by farmers Of northwestern Min
nesota. This practice is now followed
to great extent by individual farmers
TO make summer following effective
this operation must be recognized as
part of the regular crop rotation plan
Each year a definite area of the farm
must be under summerfallow. After q
certain period of years the entire area
Of plow land will then have been sum
merfallowed. Once over the farm the
summerfallow cycle is again repeated
) in the same regular order. The area OF
L land that can be summerfallOwed will
depend on the horse power Of the farm
t To take too large an area will NEAR
5 that new growth is formed more quick
ly than it can be kept down. The area
, that is summerfallowed each year vii
3 determine the number Of years for thu
| sumlnerfallow rotation
!. The summerfallow plan carries will
f it the idea of enlisting the support o!
| every farmer throughout the valley
| This plan will begin with the season O
4 1918, and be continued through tn
coming years by all farmers. Definite
Q results cannot be expected in one year
e lit will, perhaps, take three or NOR
/ years before the larger returns come
!. Since any gain in control is produced
e there should be no let up in this methot
e of summerfallow, as the SOW th1stl
q will easily and quickly establish itsel
! on the farm.
d A frightful and distressing acciden
q happened on the Dakota side Jan. 1Stl
:. last, when young couple driving iron
d Mimic to Grafton, the county seat, t
e procure a marriage license, were hit O.
a Great Northern passenger train. Tn
young lady, Eliza Callahan, was hurl
p led to instant death and the young man