Jasper County Democrat, Volume 2, Number 19, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 19 August 1899 — To Kill Canada Thistles. [ARTICLE]

To Kill Canada Thistles.

E. L. Hollingsworth has patch I of Canada thistles upon his farm and wrote to Purdue Exp. Station for the best method of destroying them, receiving the following re- ; ply, which may be of interest to many others: “In reply to your favor of recent date would say that we have not had any experience in killing Canada thistles. In looking up literature on the subject we find that the Department of Agriculture at Washington, recommends methods of eradicating them. Or- ■; dinary cultivation is practically | useless. When but small areas are affected a feasable plan is to 1 keep them cut down during the 1 growing season, that is, do not permit them to make any growth above the ground. By so doing the underground root stalks wifi become so weakened that they will , in most cases succomb to the rigors of winter, especially if the land be plowed or dug up late in the fall. Another way, and a more feasible one where large areas are affected, is to grow some rapid growing plant such as millet or clover, cutting the crop before the thistles have a chance to attain full development, re-seeding as soon as possible. Plow up in ths fall and expose the roots to the action of the frost. In other words, try to smother them out in summer and freeze them out in winter. Yours Truly, . Wm. Stewart, Ass’t Botanist*