FARMER'S ASSISTANT. 415 



tillage. In lands, however, which have been closely pastur- 

 ed for a number of successive years, it will nearly disap- 

 pear; and in mowing-lands, its growth will be constantly 

 retarded, and lessened, where the grasses grow luxuriantly, 

 particularly those before mentioned. It is, however, but 

 little injurious in hay, as cattle eat it freely; and they are 

 particularly fond of it, when it has wilted, after being newly 

 mown. In soiling of cattle, it would, therefore, be of no 

 essential injury; while it wouW gradually give place to the 

 tall and luxuriant growth of grasses, used for that purpose. 

 See SOILING. 



Pasturing, cultivating tall grasses, and keeping the lands 

 highly manured, will probably, in general, be found the 

 most eff&ctual methods of geting rid of this thistle, unless 

 the culture of potatoes, before mentioned, should be found 

 sufficient to destroy it. On dry loams, however, or those 

 laid dry by hollow drains, or on some dry marly soils, the 

 yearly culture of hemp might, in many instances, be profit- 

 ably used in subduing this troublesome weed. 



By a communication of Mr De Witt to the < Society for 

 the Promotion of the useful Arts,* in this State, it appears 

 that covering this weed, to the depth of five or six inches, 

 with straw, will completely extirpate it. In the trials which 

 were made, for this purpose, the straw was laid on when 

 the thistles had grown to the height of six inches, and was 

 left upon them for a twelvemonth. 



' It is of the utmost importance (says Mr. De Witt) in 

 the newly cultivated parts of our Country, to attend to the 

 early destruction of this troublesome weed. It generally 

 appears first in small spots, and if not extirpated will ra- 

 pidly spread, by means of its almost indestructible roots, 

 even should it be prevented, by timely excision, from send- 

 ing its winged seeds abroad, till it covers fields to an extent 

 which will discourage attempts to destroy it. I have seen 

 several spots, far remote from where it prevails, that were 

 at first but a few feet in extent, and which have annually 

 increased, till they have become of a formidable size.' 



It may be further observed, of this weed, as of all others, 

 that constantly pulling it up, as often as it appears above 

 ground, will subdue it. The leaves of plants, in particular, 

 are analagous to the lungs of animals. It is principally through 

 the leaves that hydrogene is absorbed, and'oxygene is emited. 

 See AIR. 



Any plant, therefore, when long divested of its leaves, 

 or of its stalk, if it bear no leaves, must eventually peribh. 

 The roots alone cannot long exist. All, therefore, that is 

 necessary for extirpating any weed, is to keep all that 

 grows above ground constantly cut or pulled oft"; and the 

 more frequently this is repeated, the sooner will the rcrots 



