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Show Answer by Prof. J. C. Hogcnson. The Russian tlr'stlc (Salsola Tragus) Tra-gus) belongs lo the class of annuals. ,v It is not properly a thistle, but is a f tumble weed. It was introduced into the U. S. about twenty-five years ago I in flax seed. The plant varies great ly in appearance and in leaf characters charac-ters at different stages of growth. Young plants havo long slender leaves, two or more inches in length by one-eighth of an inch or less in width. As the plant grows older, the narrow leaves drop off and give place to tripplc, half-inch spines on the flowering branches. At this stage the plant usually is large and spreading spread-ing The seeds arc about the size of clover seed, light yellow, conical, showing coiled embryo. To eradicate the Russian thistle, it is necessary to pervent seeding, by uprooting the plants before the seeds have set. If seeds arc allowed to set then, if small'j areas, they may be covered Ajjith straw and burned. In an alfalfa field, thorough discing disc-ing in the spring'and after each crop is removed will prove beneficial. On summer fallow the land should be kepjar'harrowed and free from weeds. The thistle must be prevented from going to seed along fences, ditches, road sides, orchards, .pastures, hillsides hill-sides and railroad right-of-ways, before be-fore it can be successfully eradicated. |