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much shorter, slender and topped with a bloom much like that 

 of the Bull Thistle, but never more than an inch across. The 

 bulb where it joins the stalk is smaller in proportion also, and 

 the bloom more widely spread and flat. The color of the bloom 

 is purple. 



In small patches cut the plants off below the surface, the deeper 

 the better, and apply salt freely. Watch carefully and as soon as 

 any plants appear cut them off again and salt again, and if this 

 is done often and persistently enough, they can be killed in a 

 summer. The salt may spoil the soil for a time, but this loss will 

 not compare with the gain of freedom from this pest. Any plant 

 will die if kept for a long time from growing above the surface, 

 but the salt hastens the killing. 



The Russian Thistle 



This is a member of the "tumble weed" family, and grows in 

 the globular form of these plants. The thorn grows where the 

 small pointed leaf joins the stalk, and little flowers come on the 

 sides of the stalks. When the plant is ripe the attachment to the 

 root weakens until it breaks, and the weed rolling before the wind 

 often scatters its seed over a very wide territory. 



It is an annual plant, growing entirely from the seed, and not 

 much harder to kill out than a host of other annual weeds which 

 we yearly combat. Of course, it is one more variety, and when 

 just getting started in a neighborhood should be exterminated if 

 possible, and that is not a very difficult undertaking. 



Wild Morning Glory 



A great pest in some localities, and entirely immune to ordinary 

 crop cultivation. By continuous cultivation with sweep cultivators, 

 and hoes where necessary, its seeding may absolutely be prevented 

 and this treatment continued in all seasons will prevent the weed 

 from making much growth above the surface. If it can get no 

 growth in the air any ordinary plant will die in time, and the 

 morning glory is no exception. Patience and persistence are the 

 remedies. Every green sprout must be cut off below the surface 

 once a week in the growing season. The plant will then starve, 

 but it may take two years. 



