The Wolf Point herald. (Wolf Point, Mont.) 1913-1940, 1921-03-03

thistle, iron weed, Russian thistle,
cookie bur, foxtail and ~dandelions.
Johnson grass is often mixed with
the seed of Sudan grass. The seeds
of the two plants can scarcely be dis
tinguished. Sudan grass seed gen
orally has a yellowish color while the
Johnson grass seed is dark red.
Sometimes, however, these seeds
shade from red to yellow or from
yellow to red and few analysts will
undertake to distinguish them.
Spread by Stem
johnson grass ~propagates not only
by seed but by underground fleshy
stems. When the root stock is cut in
ordinary farming operations every
piece that bears a bud Will develop
into a sturdy plant.
In rich bottom lands the rootstock
will penetrate as deep as four feet
below the surface but ordinarily they
reach only a depth of from one to
two feet. For eradication the roots
should be compelled to grow as near
the surface as possible. Continued
moving or p%asturing will weaken the
plant so that the rootstock will pene-
trate only to a depth of three to six
inches. Then in about two years the
field should have a shallow blowing
in order that the roots may be ex-
posed to the extreme changes of wea-
Their. Where possible, hogs on light
feed should be turned into the field.
The hogs are fond of the fleshy roots
because they have the sweet taste of
sweet potato tubers. Small patches
an1 fia1dc GRO som ntira DC aIoornd Nv
late blowing and hand picking.
Canadian thistle is troublesome in
some parts of Montana, and where
found it should be ~eradicated imme-
diately. The best method is to cut
when in full bloom, then rake up and
burn. After this the ground should
be plowed twice a year until desired
are obtained. Here, as in the
of bindweed and quack grass,
the secret of success lies in prevent
ing any top growth of the plant what
ever.
Iron weed is fast gaining ground
in many lowland pastures. The usual
of eradication is to cut the
plant off below the crown, as for
iandelions.
Started in West
Russian thist1es are not true this
les but belong to the goosefoot fam
ly to which pigweed and giant tum- I
belong. This thistle starts
is most rapid growing season after
he wheat has been harvested and :
W frost time attains enormous pro- {
portions. When frozen these thistIes 7
freak off and roll over the ground, $
scattering seeds as they go. The plant {
S creeping eastward slowly. Because
If its ease in travelling, one careless
armer will prove an unending nuis- t
nee to his neighbors. Practically r
he first thistle to appear in Cascade i
ounty vas watched with pride by v
he owner of the land wherein it s
rev. Rich land and a long growing b
eason gave it enormous proportions
y fall. One night it disappeared in r
high wind. No one knew just +
here it went but the next veal it's v
rail was unmistakable and for many t
ears his neighbors heaped maledic- b
ion upon that farmer for his foster il
ng care of the pest.
Restrictive measures are moving :
burning but eradication is i'm
ossible without cultivation and ro-
alton of crops. Cattle will eat the
Dung thistles but as feed they are
ractically valueless.
Other Nuisances
Another troublesome weed is the
ockle bur. These burs are often
arried over fields upon horses
and tails. Moving and rak-
lg the fields, then burning the burs
a restrictive measure but to clear
)mp1etely it must be followed by in
,nse cultivation.
Green foxtail is an annoying weed
a few sections of the state, troub-
ng corn and late ~ripening wheat
elds. Foxtail can be entirely wiped |
1T by clean cultivation. |
The farmers have found that hap !
azard work in weed eradication is !
orse than useless, the prime re- /
lisite being the ability to stick to |
purpose. Desirable results are |
re to follow.
Bindweed Worst Kind
RindWeed is one of the most dan-l 4