REPORT OF THE ENTOMOLOGIST AND BOTAXIST. 



193 



less than five bushels per acre; and 3,200,000 bushels at the minimum price of 50 

 cents per bushel (which is considerably less than the average pi-ice) indicates a loss. 

 to the farmers in the two Dakotas of $1,600,000. The loss in other crops, the 

 injuries caused by the spines, and the fires caused by the plants jumping fire-breaks, 

 will bring the tutal loss to something more than $2,000,000 for the year 1892. 



Fig. 28. 



Fig. 30. 



EussiAN Tumble Weed. 



Fig. 28." 



-A branch of a mature plant. Fig. 29.- 



-A young stem showing the nature of the leaves be- 

 fore the flowering period and a single seed enlarged. Fig. 30. — Enlarged details of the prickles, the flower 

 and the seed from which the seed coat has been removed. 



"These figures may seem alarming, but they are based on conservative esti- 

 mates. If they are alarming to the farmers, it is well, for it is only when alarmed 

 that most men will take effective measures to avoid danger." 



I have been on the lookout for this weed through my correspondents for the 

 last two years, and my attention was officially directed to it during the past sum- 

 mer by the Immigration Branch of the Department of the Interior. I am glad to 

 be able to report that so far it has not been detected in the Dominion. 



8c— 13 



