THE CANADIAN" THISTLE."

Taranaki Herald, Volume XL, Issue 9089, 22 May 1891, Page 4

THE CANADIAN" THISTLE."

There do not seem to be any labour-saving processes of getting rid of the Canadian thistle ; bat it has been found both here and in America that tbo work,, when vigorously undertaken, is much less tedious and expensive than formerly supposed. The work has been taken in hand at the Illinois Experimental Station, and the resalts bo far confirm the conclusions arrived at by Victorian experience. The report of the American experiment begins by patriotically, repudiating any ownership of the thistle,' which is stated to be of European origin. Then the 'methods tried are detailed, and the following directions are given :—": — " 1. Cat the tnistle when in fall bloom (July) as close to tbe ground as possible. 2. Plough about 3in. deep, and sow millet or Hungarian grass, seeding heavily' ; harrow. This may follow the preceding at once or after some two weeks 1 delay. 3. In September plough under the cropj or save it for hay as desired. At all events plough and seed liberally with rye. 4. Plough under the rye in May, and seed again with millet, or Hungarian grass, or plant to some hoed crop (corn), and give the most thorough cultivation, with continued searching for and destruction of every remaining thistle. 5. Continue the clean, cultivation and sharp lookout for thistles another year." It was clearly Bttown that keeping - the overground portions of- the plant close cat- rapidly killed the loots. — Australasian.