CALIFORNIAN THISTLE

Dominion, Volume 11, Issue 253, 13 July 1918, Page 10

CALIFORNIAN THISTLE

ITS DESTRUCTION. The following- ;s from the "Agricultural Journal":—A particular method of destroying "parches of Culifornian thistle with straw has been practised by certain fanners in South Canterbury for a ■ number of years past, but does not appear to be so generally known as its merit warrants. Under this system the latch is well covered, in autumn, with straw to a depth of about one loot. In spring the thistle comes through tho covering in spindly whitish shoots. Tho straw is then turned with a fork, this operation breaking off tho shoots. An alternative and perhaps rather more thorough plan is to pull the shoots with the hand, gloved. Either method can bo repeated as necessary. Patches have often been killed out in one year by this system, but if necessary the treatment can be continued for another season. The straw in due course l-uls and makes good manure for the ground. As with all other farm operations, careful at; tention must be given to manipulating the thistle patches undf-r treatment. Dumping down the straw and doing little or nothing further is practically waste of time. The principle of the system is not immediate smothering, but inducing struggling weakly growth which cshnusis the plant, the killing process being furthered by the breaking of the shoots. Where straw is not available fern or other material, such as gorse clippings, might be used for the snmc purpose. The originator of the method defieribsd appears to have been Mr. A. Clelland, now resident in Timaru, who completely cleared his I'nriii at Cave of the thistle ten or twelve years ago. It may be ndded that Mr. Clelland had previously tried to destroy tho thistle patches by the application of salt, but with very ill effect on the' soil, the land being wha't is colloquially termed "tarry" limestone country, which sets hard when liberally dosed with salt.