188 THE MONTHLY BULLETIN. 



The time to cut bull thistles, yellow star, sow thistle, milk tliistle 

 and others is NOW. Don't let it go until the heads are ripe and the 

 wind has scattered the seeds over the whole country. 



It might be well to say that the country is not the only region infested 

 with thistles or the only source of infestation. Many city lots provide 

 as excellent a source of infestation for the surrounding country as can 

 be imagined. There is a law providing for the eradication of weeds in 

 the cities, and the owners of clean or cleared land should make it their 

 duty to see that this law is enforced. 



Every man should be his brother's keeper where thistles are con- 

 cerned, for he can not keep his harvest at home. The wind will trans- 

 port the seeds for miles and untold damage may be done to some other 

 farmer as the result of the failure of each property owner doing his 

 part this year. It is only through co-operation that we can expect to 

 eradicate our serious weed pests. A State law will help, but unless 

 the farmers wake up to the importance of j)ure seed and clean land, 

 and realize that it will make a big difference in their annual income, 

 such a law will only amount to series of words and phrases. If we 

 did not believe what we are saying we would not waste our time writing 

 and studying these same pests. Experience in other states has taught 

 us that what we say is absolutely true and the sooner the farmers of 

 the State of California realize it the better will be their chances for 

 success. — 0. W. Newman. 



Protecting Tree Trunks from the Sun. — Whitewashing the trunks of 

 fruit trees, young or old, to prevent sunburn, is commonly practiced 

 in California. A good formula for whitewash is the following : 



Quicklime 30 pounds 



Tallow 4 pounds 



Salt 5 pounds 



Water enough to make the mixture flow well 



— E. J. V. 



Alfalfa Weevil Inspection. — The annual inspection of the alfalfa 

 fields along the Salt Lake Route in San Bernardino County was made 

 in April. The territory from Kouns to Victorville was carefully 

 examined, and fortunately for California alfalfa growers, no weevils 

 were found. As has been previously written, the Salt Lake route 

 traversing the alfalfa districts of Utah where the alfalfa weevil is most 

 destructive, may become a factor in the distribution of this insect. 

 About the same number of acres — 740 — is reported this year as last. 

 While some plantings were made since the last inspection, the floods of 

 last winter were responsible for the washing away of parts of fields 

 adjacent to the Mojave River. — E. J. V, 



