1884.] QUESTIONS. 293 



Question. Can the Canada thistle be exterminated by 

 heavy manuring ? 



Mr. Day. In order to exterminate the Canada thistle 

 thoroughly, cut it close to the ground at the time that it is in 

 full bloom. They do not all flower at the same time, and you 

 may have to go over the field two or three times ; but by 

 cutting it at that time, you may be certain of exterminating 

 it. I have done it. 



Mr. Bill. That is rather an important matter, for the 

 Canada thistle has got a strong foothold throughout the State 

 of Connecticut. I have traveled in Canada, where I have 

 seen thousands of acres entirely ruined. I found acre upon 

 acre of lands that 1 purchased, covered with Canada thistles. 

 I have entirely driven them from my land by cutting them at 

 the time of blossoming. You may not do it the first time, 

 but follow it up two or three years, and you will drive them 

 from your lands. 



Mr. Wetherell, I will mention a case where that plan 

 did not succeed. My grandfather was in the habit of cutting 

 a patch of thistles every year, and was very particular about 

 cutting them at the right time. He practiced that all through 

 my boyhood, and the thistles were in the pasture when I left 

 the farm, right in that same spot. 



Mr. Hale. I think if the gentleman will put a little hand- 

 ful of salt around the stump, he will get rid of them easily. 



Mr. Augur. Prof. Brewer, two or three years since, made 

 this statement : that if Canada thistles were cut the twenty- 

 fifth of June and the twenty-fifth of September, each year, 

 they would not need cutting but a very few times, and it ^ 



would certainly kill them. 



Prof. Brewer. I said that a man sold the secret through 

 central New York, some years ago, for ten dollars. His rule 

 was to cut them the twenty-fifth of June and the twenty-fifth 

 of September. I believe he stated that the time to cut them 

 was just as they were coming into blossom. 



Mr. . One season will do it, if you keep constantly 



