BRIEFER ARTICLES. 
Distribution of the Russian thistle in North America.—During the 
past thirty years the Russian thistle, Sa/so/a kali tragus, has been in- 
troduced over a wider range and has covered the infested territory 
more thoroughly than any other weed in America has ever done in 
the same length of time. Prickly lettuce, Zactuca Scarto/a, has a rec- 
ord for rapid distribution which approaches that of the Russian thistle 
but the prickly lettuce was introduced as early as 1863, while the Rus- 
Sian thistle was not here until ten years later. Even the Canada 
thistle which was abundant enough in Vermont a century ago to be 
proscribed by law as a noxious weed, has not in a hundred years cov- 
ered much more ground than is now occupied by the Russian thistle. 
The data being collected regarding the rapid distribution of this 
weed will form an interesting chapter in the history of weeds in this 
country. 
+ Reported. 
e Specimens examined. 
The accompanying map shows the distribution of the Russian thistle 
as indicated by the reports received at the Department of Agriculture 
during the past three years, corrected to October 30, 1895. If the 
plant has been discovered in any locality not indicated on the map, the 
undersigned would be glad to receive a report of it; and, if in any local- 
ity there indicated the plants have been exterminated, a report of the 
fact would be doubly acceptable.—LysTER H. Dewey, Washington, D. “a 
[501] 
