New Zealand Department of Agriculture.

Manawatu Herald, 21 December 1893, Page 2

New Zealand Department of Agriculture.

"»» "» Vl^l^..— —-I ...... — _. - - o - __ ♦ JOHN D. HITCHIE, Secretary. LEAFLETS FOR FARMERS. No. 4. With a view to disseminating as widely as possible information useful to farmers and others, it has been decided to issue from time to time illustrated leaflets, giving in as brief a form as possible the information available on the subject treated of. nttTr , May. 1898. JOHN D. RITCHIE.

'-■'\ '■■■' 1 ( : : of <"-V-v Fig. 1. Flower and seed heads. 2, Leaf. 8. Boot, showing creeping habit, and the manner in which stems are developed at short intervals. Californian Thistle or Canada Thistle (Australia and New Zealand) ; Corn Thistle, or Gbeen Thistle (England) ; Canada Thistlb (United States of America) ; Canada or Cursed Thistle (Canada). — Vnicui at'ven&is.

Description. — Grows from 2ft to sft high. Leaves from Sin to Gin long, winged at the base, deeply lobed, the edges armed with numerous sharp stiff prickles, from 1 to 3 lines long, inserted on the underside of the leaf, and projecting beyond the margin (see fig. 2). Stem branched and leafy, with the flowerheads (fig. 1) are seldom lin high ; the involucre close, the small scales with prickly points. The flowers are mainly dioecious — i.e., those on one plant male only, those on another female only. This thistle has creeping roots which penetrate the ground horizontally for great distances, giving off fresh stems at short intervals (see fig. 3), and in consequence of this habit is usually found in circular patches. Usually a free seeder, but in some localities the seeds are not developed. This is probably due, in part at least, to the dioecious character already mentioned'; the patch having originated from a single specimen, and there being no plants of the other sex within reasonable distance, it follows that increase must be by moans of the root only. The Californian thistle will grow in all kinds of soil, but spreads most in light loose ground, in which its roots meet with little resistance. I Distribution. — C'nicus jrvemis is a native of Europe, but is now found in most agricultural and pastoral countries. In some parts of Aus • tralia it has obtained complete possession of the ground, and considerable areas have been rendered quite worthless. It is believed to have been introduced into New Zealand about sixteen yeais ago, and about I nin.e ..or ten years since began to force itself on the notice of settlers-; it . may now be found in most parts of the colony, especially of the South Island. . Means of Dissemination- —1. By breaking up the root system and scattering the pieces over the field, as has been done by careless ploughing. Broken pieces are also carried down watercourses, and thus distributed. 2. By means of seeds, which are sometimes carried long distances by the wind, by birds, in threshing machines, and in the fleeces of sheep. They are also actively distributed by settlers themselves, both in hay and farm seeds, the latter iv many cases having received no dressing at all, or been •■• cleaned " in the most perfunctory manner. Seeds arc also carried in manure. Means of Prevention . — If you have not the thistle, then take every means to secure immunity from the j curse. Buy none but the best seed, | examine every sample carefully, and j reject everything that looks at all | suspicious. Never accept, even as a ' gift, either seed or hay from an in- •, fectcftfarm. It will prove -the most expensive present you ever received . Above all, keep a sharp look-out, j and if a single plant appears grub it up at, once. Extradication — from cultivated land.— The following are the instructions given in December last, by* Thomas Shaw and C. A. Zavitz, ' Professor of Agriculture and Experimentalist respectively, in the Ontario Agricultural College, and are the result of experiments conducted by I them at the Experimental Farm at Guelph. Of course, allowance must be~ r made-for the difference in seasons : — '< |. Drop out of the rotation so far as practicable all such crops as allow the thistle-seeds to ripen before these are cut, until infested fields have been dealt with. 11 2; ' Plough the land immediately after harvest. Plough shallow with any kind of plough that will cut the '

thistles off clean without breaking the creeping root-stocks. Keep the thistles from breathing above ground until the late autumn ploughing, which should be deep, for the sake of the crop which i 3to come after. In the spring keep the thistles under by means of a cuitable 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 of the rows by haud-hoeing. Go over the crop if necessary once or twice after the horse cultivation ceases, and there should not be one thistle left. The most effective part of the work has been done the preceding autumn, providing the weather at that time has been dry. "8. Plough the ground deeply in August. Sow rye early in September, at the rate of 2£ to 8 bushels per acre, and cut the following spring for winter fodder. Then plough the ground deeply with any kind of plough that will effectually bury the stubbles. The jointer with skimmer wiil answer very well. Then roll at once to conserve the moisture. Harrow once a week until it is time to drill the ground for rape. Drill about the last of June or Ist July by using the double mould-board plough. The drills may be 22iu. to 24in. apart. Sow at once with rape by using the ordinary tnrnip-driil, and then cultivate and care for as described in section 2 above. In our experience at this farm we have found this mode of destroying the Canada thistle to be very effective. i •• 4. Plough under pasture land in June, or land from which a crop of hay has been removed early in July. Work the laud 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, and 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, sub stitute for it rye, spring wheat, or barley, as may be desired. "5. Where the land has been sown to clover, cut the crop twice tor hay, or once for hay 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 cuttings, are very helpful in reducing the thistle. "6. When the thistles are well brought under, they should be kept so by the use of the spud. The grain fields should be gone over before harvest to prevent the thistles from blossoming, and, after harvest, the meadows and fields sown to grass. So far as 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 punish the thistles very badly. We have found that, by spudding two or three times a year in the autumn, the thistles soon disappear from the fence-borders and by-places generally." From Grazing Land. — Any measures preventing the plant from developing leaves will be effective. The following have been thoroughly tried : Cut the thistles down close to the ground ; if a' large patch, use a scythe. Then dose the ground well with a solution of araenio, oarbolio aoid, or other poison) the wash from sheep-dips will anawer ; orgivi a liberal dressing of common gait Repeat the treatment, if possible, as soon as the plants show above.

ground ; never allow them to develop leaves ; remember, the leaves are the lungs of a plant, and without them it mast die. Even old established plants will by this treatment be eradicated in from two to three years, and proper vigilance will prevent the pest ever again obtaining a footing. The expense and trouble will be more than repaid by the result, i.e., extermination, and that will be more cheaply and more easily effected now than some years hence. The Culifornian thistle never dies out ; but just as cancer spreads and spreads, gradually obtaining possession of the system of an animal, and ultimately proving fatal, so does this thistle deal with the land. Slowly but surely its roots penetrate in all directions, and, if the fanner dors not eradicate the thistle, the thistle will eradicate the farmer. The Government, recognising the desirability of discovering, if possible, a now and more speedy means of destruction, has offered a bonus of £250 for an effective eradicator. T. W. Kirk. 22nd May, 1898. .