Show I Musk Thistle Is New Infestation A new weed infestation has appeared in Davis County which if not given immediate attention for its destruction could well become a problem in the not too distant future EVERY precaution should betaken betaken be betaken taken to stop the infestation of the Musk Thistle according to L. L Darrell Stokes Davis County Extension Agent Mr Stokes has issued the following detailed detail detail- ed bulletin for everyone's consideration consideration consideration con con- where the Musk Thistle is found It has been placed on the Official Noxious Weed List New infestations of a weed called Musk Thistle are being found frequently in Davis County Evidently the weed is spreading rapidly according according according accord accord- ing to L. L Darrell Stokes Davis County Extension Agent MORGAN Summit and Cache Counties were the first to locate and report infestations infestations infestations infesta infesta- I of the weed Since then it has been found in Duchesne Utah and now Davis County and may be in other areas as i well It thrives principally on rangeland pastures and meadows highway and railroad railroad railroad rail rail- road ways right and other non Musk thistle na- na tans taus is a tall growing thistle with a large stem and ver very large leaves It often grows six to eight feet tall There are prominent spines on the leaves and stems THE DARK green leaves are deeply cut and have a I light green midrib and greyish greyish greyish grey grey- ish green outer edge It has bright redish purple flowers that appear during June in most areas The heads hang down as the h p plant ant matures matures' One plant may have as many as 50 heads and up to 1000 seeds per head Such Sucha a profusion of seeds can result result result re re- sult in very rapid spread to other areas Farmers need to become acquainted with this weed so that they can eliminate it when they see it growing in pastures on fence lines in yards and waste land areas MUSK thistle is usually classed as a biennial al However However However How How- ever it often grows like a winter annual The seeds may germinate in the late summer or fall and the plant then develops develops develops de de- flowers and seeds the following season Results from control test plots in Cache County indi indi- indicate indicate indicate cate that D 24 ester at 2 1 pounds per acre has given the best control for the money However all the information I obtainable indicates that this treatment must be made early before the flower stalk develops develops develops devel- devel I ops in in order to be effective i I I II I REPEATED treatments must be made in fall and spring for a number of years to kill seedlings as they develop from seeds in the soil Plants that haven't been treated yet this year should not be allowed to produce seed Spray with heavier rates of 24 D 24 D or some of the more potent chemicals will prevent seeding if seed development development development devel devel- hasn't advanced too far Immediate action is is re re- Also plan now to spray ir infested ested areas this fall falland falland falland and again next spring MUSK THISTLE may be declared declared declared de de- noxious in the future and placed on the Official Noxious Weed List as an aidin a aid aidin d din in its control Everyone working with weeds is encouraged to look for new infestations of Musk Thistle If any are found report them to weed supervisors extension extension exten exten- extension sion agents or district agricultural agricultural agricultural agri agri- cultural inspectors END OF Mr Stokes bulle bulle- tin Time to start is now |