i8 



FARM FRIENDS AND FARM FOES 



The Canada Thistle is distinguished from the common 

 pasture thistle by its small flower heads. The plant, as a 

 whole, is more slender, while its leaves are narrower and 

 more deeply cut. The flowers are purple, 

 and are followed by seeds bearing a feath- 

 ery pappus. The species is regarded as one 

 of the most troublesome weeds, largely on 

 account of its perennial roots which spread 

 in all directions, so that a single plant may 

 become a center from which many others 

 develop. Because of these roots, also, the 

 plant is difficult to eradicate. Thorough 

 plowing, repeated mowing, 

 seeding down to get a heavy 

 sod, and the application of 

 kerosene to the roots are 

 the remedies most gener- 

 ally recommended. 



When tillable land is 

 badly infested with Canada 

 Thistles the following pro- 

 cedure is recommended by 

 the Illinois Experiment Station : 



1. Cut the thistles when in full bloom (July) as close to 



the ground as possible. 



2. Plow about three inches deep and sow millet or 



Hungarian grass, seeding heavily ; harrow. This 

 may follow the preceding at once or after some 

 two weeks' delay. 



3. In September plow under the crop, or save it for hay, 



as desired. At all events, plow and seed liberally 

 with rye. 



