CALIFORNIAN THISTLE.

Otago Witness, Issue 2237, 14 January 1897, Page 7

CALIFORNIAN THISTLE.

Several correspondents have asked us to give some simple method of destroying this fearful scourge. M Simple methods " there are none. Hard work, patience, and perseverance are all necessary in contending with the pest, and those who are waiting for a simple method are doomed to disappointment. We subjoin the instructions issued by the Agricultural department :— - Eradication From Cultivated Ground.— The following are the instructions given by Thomas Shaw and O. A. Znvitz, Professor of Agriculture and Experimentalist respectively in the Ontario Agricultural College, and are the result of expriments conducted by them at the Experimental Farm at Guelph. Of course, allowance must be made for the difference in seasons :— 1. Drop out of the rotation so far as practicable all euch crops as allow the thistle seeds to ripen before these are cut until infested fields have been dealt with. 2. Plough the land immediately after harvest. Plough shallow with any kind of plough that will cut the thistles off cleau without breaking the creeping root stocks. Keep the thistles from breathing above grounri until the late autunm ploughing, which should be deep for the sake of the crop which is to come after. In the spring keop the thistles under by means of a suitable cultivator until the time for planting a crop of corn, roots, or rape. Give the crop thus planted the horse-hoeing necessary to keep down all weed growth, and also keep the thistles cut out of the line t>f the rows by hand- hoeing. Go over the crop if necessary once or twice after the horse cultivation ceases, aud there should not be one thistle left. The mo»t effective part of the work has been done the procediug autumn providiug the weather at that -time has been dry. 3. Plough tbe ground deeply in August. Sow rye early in September, at the rate of 2J to 3 bushels per acre, and cut the following sprinß for winter forldor. Then plough the ground deeply with any kind of plough that will effectually bury the stubbles. The jointer with skimmer will answer very well. Then roll at once to conserve the moisture. Harrow onca a. week until it is time to drill the ground for rape. Drill about the last, of June or Ist of Juty by using the double mould-board plough. The drills may be 22i0 to 24in apart Sow at once with rape by using the ordinary turnip drill, and then cultivate and care for an described in Section 2 above. In our experience at this farm we have found this mode of desttoyiug the Canada, thistle to be very effective. 4. Plough under pasture land in June or land from which a crop of hay has been removed early in July. Work the land thus ploughed upon the surface, so that all thistles will be kept under until the time of 'sowing winter wheat. Sow the wheat with clover, a-ad repeat the process if necessary after having cut one, two, or three crops of the clover. This method is applicable to stiff soils where winter wheat can be grown. In sections where winter wheat will not grow substitute for it rye, spring whoat, or barley, as may be desired. 5. When the land has been sown to clover cut the crop twice for hay, or once for bay and once for seed. Then follow with a hoed crop properly cultivated. The smothering influences of the two crops of clover in one season, and then two i cutting?, arc very helpful in reducing the thistle. 8. When the thistles are well brought under they should be kept so by the use of the spud. The grain fields should ba gone^over bofore harvest to prevent the thistle from blossoming, and after harvest the meadows and fields sown to grass. So far an the destruction of the thistle is concerned spudding after the blossoming season is more effective than when this is done sooner. Two or three cuttings with the spud after harvest punuh the thiitles very badly. We have found that by cpud- , ning two or three times a year in the autumn the j tht«tlrs soon disappear from the fence borders and by-places generally. From Grazing Land.— Any measures preventing tie pi&Mi fr.'ioi clcn-<«i->pit»w i leaves will be effects j f)i« following ha»e bven thoroughly tried :— Cut ■ thft thistles down clow t.» the ground ; if a >*rge ( patch u« a scythe. Tncn dose the giound well | with a s jiution of a!v*:*ic, carbolic acid, or other j poison v the wash froi* ali«e> dips will answer ; or give a liberal dressing of cormon salt. Repeat the treatment, if possible, at> soon as the plauts i chow above ground ; never allow tbem to develop j leaves ; remember, the leaves are the lungs of a plant, and without them is must die. Even oldestablished plants will by this treatment be eradicated ia from two to three yens, and- proper vigilance will prevent the post ever agaiu obtain- j ing a footing. ! The expen*e and trouble will be more than re- i paid by the result — i.e., extermination, and that will be more cheaply and more easily effected now than some years hence. The Oalifornian thistle never dies out ; but just aa cancer spreads and spreads, gradually obtaining possession of the system of an animal, and ultimately proving fatal, io doeß this thistle deal with the land. Slowly '

but surely its roots penetrate in all direction*, and if the farmer does not eradicate tho thistle th« thistle will eiudicafce thef farmer. The Governmont, recognising the desirability of discovering if possible a udw and mora speed] moans of destruction, have offered a bonus ot .£254 for an effective eradicator.