325 



millet and plow and sow to rye, cut the rye and plow again and sow to millet, 

 the following year plant to corn and work thoroughly and I am sure it 

 will be a success. There are various ways that thistles are introduced. For 

 instance, clover seed, timothy seed, from manure, from the stock yards, 

 livery stables, and a few going to seed in isolated place? or carelessness on 

 the part of the farmer. I noticed that in the latter part of August that a 

 worm similar to the wire worm in corn was killing hundreds of stalks of 

 Canada thistles. Whether permanently or not I cannot say. 



Report of Ernest Ginter, Canada thistle commissioner, Peotone town- 

 ship: 



Number of patches this year, 140; number of patches last year, 241; de- 

 crease this year, 101. I do not know how they were introduced into this 

 township. There were last year 21 patches on the public highway which, 

 after a treatment with gasoline and salt, have been reduced to three at a very 

 nominal cost. The farmers at whose farms any have been found treated 

 them in a similar manner, some also by plowing. If the city of Chicago will 

 exterminate their thistles on their unimproved property it is my opinion that 

 we can eradicate them completely in a few years. 



Report of Jerome T. Smith, commissioner of Canada thistles, Plainfield 

 township: 



The commissioner of Canada thistles for the said town would report that 

 said thistles were found on the farms of the undersigned: John Copps, C. 

 Bronson, F. Harshbarker, D. King, E. Brown, A. G. Armore, S. Grundy, 

 Will Deranerst. John Mars, Sash Spangler, A. F. Mathers, A. Smith, S. 

 Drowolen, W. Goodson, John VanHorn, C. Stewart, W. Cryolen, P. Monroe, 

 R. Wrider, J. Conant, J. R. Parks, H. Colson, C. E. Smith, K. Fouser, M. 

 Spangler, Mrs. Rafter and H. Gerst. There were found 40 lest* patches this 

 year than last. I would recommend cutting and keeping the thistles below 

 the surface of the ground. Also salting to eradicate them. 



