The Powder River County examiner and the Broadus independent. [volume] (Broadus, Mont.) 1919-1935, 1921-03-04
TREASURE STATE FARM AND LIVESTOCK
HUNDRED VARIETIES OF WEEDS
PESTER WESTERN FARMERS

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 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 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 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 pasturing will weaken the
plant so that the rootstock will pene-
trate only to depth of three to six
inches. Then in about two years the
field should have shallow blowing
in order that the roots may be en-
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
and fields are sometimes cleared by
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 year until desired
results are obtained. Here, as in the
case 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
method Of eradication is to cut the
plant off below the crown, as for
dandelions.
! Started in West
Russian thistles are not true this
ties but belong to the goosefoot fam
lily to which pigweed and giant tum
bleweed belong. This thistle starts
its most rapid growing season after
the wheat has been harvested anG
by frost time attains enormous pro
portions. When frozen these thistle.
break off and roll over the ground
scattering seeds as they go. The MAN
is creeping eastward slowly. Betaus1
of its ease in travelling. one careless
farmer will prove an unending nuts
ance to his neighbors. Practical,
the first thistle to appear in Cascade
county was watched with pride b.
the owner of the land wherein i
grew. Rich land and long growing
season gave 1t enormous proportion,
by fall. One night it disappeared IL
a high wind. No one knew JUS
where it went but the next year it.
trail was unmistakable and for man!
years his neighbors heaped maledic
ton upon that farmer for his foster
ing care of the pest.
Restrictive measures are moving
anu UuIuluS UuS clduACdlIOL - III
possible without cultivation and 70
tation of crops. Cattle will eat tn,
young thistles but as feed they ar,
practically valueless.
Other Nuisances
Another troublesome weed is tn
cookie bur. These burs are oftel
carried over fields upon horses
names and tails. Moving and rak
ing the fields. then burning the bur
is a restrictive measure but to clea
completely it must be followed BY in
tense cultivation.
Green fOxtail is an annoying wee
in a few sections of the state, trouh
!. ling corn and late ripening whea
I fields. Foxtail can be entirely wipe
out by clean cultivation.
The farmers have found that har
hazard work in weed eradication
worse than useless, the prime re
quisite being the ability to stick I
the purpose. Desirable results ar
sure to follow.
Bindweed Worst Kind
|lf Bindweed is one of the most dar