i5 
No. 5, JULY, 1000. 
THE RUSSIAN THISTLE AS FORAGE. 
BY J. E. PAYNE, 
In many localities, the Russian thistle threatens to take 
possession of the land, in spite of all efforts of public-spirited 
people to keep it in check. 
In neighborhoods where it has taken possession of the 
land, it seems best to ask—Can it be used for the benefit of 
the people whose land it has invaded? 
The value of the Russian thistle has never been tested 
by a feeding experiment at any Experiment Station so far 
as we know, but the Minnesota Station has analysed the 
plants in various stages of growth. The following, copied 
from the Experiment Station Record, page 553, Vol. 6,. 
gives the substance of Bulletin No. 34 of the Minnesota 
Experiment Station: 
“When young the thistle is claimed to have a high food value, espec¬ 
ially for sheep, which, some claim, are attracted to it merely on account of 
the salt which it contains. The chemical analysis shows a large percentage 
of ash material, amounting to nearly one-fifth of the dry weight of the plant. 
This is a serious objection to its use as a fodder plant, on account of the 
alkaline nature of the mineral matter present. One favorable point, as 
shown by analysis, is the large amount of nitrogenous matter present, being 
as much as there is in clover or rape. Before the development of the thorns, 
there is not much fibre present; at this time the plant is more valuable as a 
food than when mature. When the plant is ripe, the fibre and mineral 
matter make up half its composition, and although rich in nitrogenous mat¬ 
ter, the former elements greatly reduce its feeding value 
“The ash analysis shows that the weed has strong foraging powers, 
there being large amounts of potash and lime taken up by the plant. The 
draft which the plant makes upon the sodium in the soil is a benefit to alkali 
lands. The amount of sodium present varies greatly with conditions, show¬ 
ing that the plant is able to adapt itself to the alkaline conditions of the soil. 
From the time the thorns are out until the plant matures it takes up a 
large amount of sodium from the soil, and only small amounts of other ma¬ 
terials, hence it makes the heaviest draft upon its soil while in an immature 
state, after which it takes but little essential plant food.” 
The following testimony concerning the use of Russian 
thistles as a food for stock has been gathered from men who 
have had more or less experience in feeding it: 
“Cattle eat Russian thistles, but they are poor feed.’’ 
Chas. Hackenberger, 
Burlington, Colo. 
