712 



Some Common Thistles. 



[march 



as it goes for the destruction of the spear, welted, and marsh 

 thistles, but it is absolutely useless for the checking of the 

 creeping thistle. The first four lines are true only of the 

 perennial creeping thistle, and the last two lines only refer to the 

 biennial species. It would conduce to better work if the rhyme 

 could be buried and forgotten, as it suggests general advice for 

 all kinds of thistles, and such generalisation is valueless. 



(i.) Destruction of Spear ; Welted and Marsh Thistles. — The 

 spear, welted, and marsh thistles are all biennials in habit, 

 and can be destroyed by the same methods. Each plant 

 grows but two seasons, at the end of which it exhausts itself 

 in seed production and dies. In the case of these weeds seeding 

 must be prevented. This can be done by cutting with a spud 



below ground, or with a scythe or sickle above ground in late 

 June or July, when the plants have sent up their flowering 

 stems, and before the flowers have opened. Cut at this time 

 they die (as they would have done in another month or two in 

 any case) and seed is not formed. This plan effectually gets 

 rid of plants which are in their second season of growth. Seed- 

 lings must, however, be dealt with also. These are best 

 spudded in meadows and pastures in late autumn an*d spring. 

 At this time they are in the form of a rosette close to the 

 ground. In cutting with the spud or similar instrument it is 

 important to be certain that the roots of the plant are cut 



Eig. 7. — Root of Creeping Thistle. 



