Grand Forks herald. [volume] (Grand Forks, N.D.) 1916-1955, 1921-07-08
1--WE NEWS
Northwe arminR
News and Notes ~ ComnpledSS Hy ~ Grand Fpsas Herald
Kill. THE SOW TH~ISTLE----TTIHE RED RIVER VALLEY
gPESTILENCE.
Deps., international harvester @,
4

ms.
Thessuccess Of this method OF. eradi-
cation viii depend upon the fact that
its is keptSup&conti1 ually, andsthe sow
thistle not allowed to get a start after
once been put under the ground.
lnSgorders to- do this 1T is necessary
to cultivate this ground every week or
itenSdays with the duck foot $cultivator.
unit frost This cultivator is provid-
ed withsEsweeps which run under the.
ground, and theysshould run on the.
ip1ow sole, just as deep as the ploW
an and great care taken to cover.
every bit sof the ground SO that no SOW
thistle us allowed to- get a leaf above
ground. s.iss
This Treatment o only e~radicates
the SOW thistle, but as a general thing,
under favorable conditions the Yield
of crops following such treatment, will
be more than doubled The cost Of
summer fallow in this way will de-
pend on the wages, but should range
between 500 and $1,000 per acre.
While this isSrather heavy, there is
evidently n 9 cheaper or more effective
a sumriaryIof the leading points in
q bulletin on the SOW thistle publish
ed by the Manitoba Agricultural Col
lleges is as follows:
NJ sAtiIGt OBSERVATION-DISCLOSURES q. N,gTEAtIl#gt lEs4 Nh.--Nsr'
Summary of Leading Points
The Perennial Sow thistle is the
worst weed that has been introduced
into Manitoba.
While a few farmers are controlling
IT. OF them are failing to do SO.
It's cheaper to eradicate the first
few plants to be introduced into any
district than to suppress this weed
after It h a become generally distrib-
)uted. 40.
White some Of the means by which
the SOW thistle is distributed art be-
Iyond q control of the farmer, others
are within his control. He should see
that threshing machines and stock
0bundle9&& wagons are cleaned, seed
tgrains and grassts free from weed
lseeds. and. should burn straw or pack
ling material Of purchased articles, as
this may carry weed seeds.
The spots where threshing has been
Idone should scrutinized the year
following.
Plants cut down while In blossom. if
allowed to remain on, the ground, viii
mature many Of their seeds. There
fore, II cut in this stage, the plants
snoald be covertd with straw and
The cutting Of small patches should
pc thorough, SO as to miss no plants,
and 1.-The spots should be reinspected
4
# small patches are to be eradicat.
ed by, cultivation, the utmost car,
! should be taken that the tillage nipple.
4 ments do not carry roots from these
Ito other parts Of the farm.
Small patches may be eradicated
by ~ digging out the roots, (2l
lsmothering the patch with straw
manure, or tar paper. or (3) starry.
ing t~heEplants by such cultivation az
VIII entirely prevent the formation
OF leaves for a season.
In parts of the country where SOW
thistle IS well established, the, whole
system OF farming.must be SO organ.
lied as to contribute to the .contro
OF this weed, ii, success is to be at.
tanned. o. II - IL
The plow-and duck foot cultivate,
are the most useful implements ir
Graduating the sow thistle. These
can be used to cut off the erowins
stems and prevent the plant forming
leaves. !. IS
Several systems Of. summer fallow.
ing may be practiced, but in orde,
to be effective any system must kee1
the ground black during the growing
season! II
Some crops may be grown NOR,
~Av At06CoO lIldlI@ OLAoIS IN field!
infested with SOW thistle. Among tn,
best are corn. winter rye brom,
grass, sweet clover, rape and possibl,
hemp. N 19E -
a suitable crop rotation should b,
followed.
Live stock raising is especially |,
be recommended on weedy farms.
Spraying with chemicals is not /.
practical way Of fighting sow thistle
Community effort is needed ii
fighting this pest.
Farmers should seek the advice ant
y help of the weed inspectors and coun
ty agent. a IS.
Live Stock and Crop Rotation.
1t will be noticed from the q how
summaryth that they have learned tina
a simple system Of grain farming 1
not effective in fighting the soy
thistle, and in a personal converse
ton with one Of the members ofnfh,
Weed Commissioner Manitoba. b,
said they strongly recommend a srota
ton of crops and the introduction o
live stock for more effectively fight
Ing this weed.
There is no question but that tn,
farmers Of the Red River Valley ar,
on n right track because Their,
never was sosrapids an increase in tn,
number OF live stock and particular
~ sheep. Sheep are 8one of the mos
effective weed Se~radicators known
and an area closely pastured by sheer
for a yearSor two is put in splendid
condition for continuing the eradica.
ton by skim blowing and sumrne,
fallow, with the field cultivator, 9!
duck foot cultivator. as it lis called
Sheep and hogs will eat the roots o
1.-THE SOW thistle as they are plowet
out, or will dig them out II othe,
feed zig not Plentiful. BY blowing ant
pasturing with hogsssor sheep the LAM
is enriched and at the same tim,
freed OF weeds. Il