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Letter to Editor
May 13, 1819
Daily National Intelligencer
Washington, District Of Columbia
What is this article about?
Gen. John Armstrong writes to the President of the Berkshire Agricultural Society sharing his successful method of eradicating Canada Thistle using pickle from winter provisions, as an economical alternative to other means.
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OCR Quality
98%
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Full Text
The President of the Berkshire Agricultural Society has published the following letter, addressed to him by Gen. John Armstrong, on the subject of the Canada Thistle.
Red Hook, 27th April, 1819.
Sir: Finding by a publication under your signature, as President of the Agricultural Society of Berkshire, that it is a desideratum with that body to discover "the means of extirpating the Canada Thistle in an economical way, practicable to farmers in general," I have thought it would not be improper to give you the result of my experience on that head without, however, wishing to be considered a candidate for your premium.
Three years ago, a laborer pointed out to me a piece of ground on my farm, covered with the Canada Thistle. He was unable to suggest any means of killing it, but remarked, that it might be kept from spreading by heaping and burning upon it buck-wheat or other straw. As this method was but palliative, I pursued another, and this was, to pour slowly upon it the fish, beef, and pork pickle of my winter provisions. In a few days there was not an appearance of vegetation of any kind on the earth to which the pickle had been applied, and from that day to this the Thistles have not re-appeared.
While thinking on this subject, I had determined (had the pickle failed) to try Apple pomace, spread thinly over the thistles—knowing that malic acid would destroy the most vigorous and tap-rooted plants.
I am, sir, very respectfully, your obedient, humble servant,
JOHN ARMSTRONG,
Thomas Melville, jr. Esq.
Red Hook, 27th April, 1819.
Sir: Finding by a publication under your signature, as President of the Agricultural Society of Berkshire, that it is a desideratum with that body to discover "the means of extirpating the Canada Thistle in an economical way, practicable to farmers in general," I have thought it would not be improper to give you the result of my experience on that head without, however, wishing to be considered a candidate for your premium.
Three years ago, a laborer pointed out to me a piece of ground on my farm, covered with the Canada Thistle. He was unable to suggest any means of killing it, but remarked, that it might be kept from spreading by heaping and burning upon it buck-wheat or other straw. As this method was but palliative, I pursued another, and this was, to pour slowly upon it the fish, beef, and pork pickle of my winter provisions. In a few days there was not an appearance of vegetation of any kind on the earth to which the pickle had been applied, and from that day to this the Thistles have not re-appeared.
While thinking on this subject, I had determined (had the pickle failed) to try Apple pomace, spread thinly over the thistles—knowing that malic acid would destroy the most vigorous and tap-rooted plants.
I am, sir, very respectfully, your obedient, humble servant,
JOHN ARMSTRONG,
Thomas Melville, jr. Esq.
What sub-type of article is it?
Informative
What themes does it cover?
Agriculture
What keywords are associated?
Canada Thistle
Extirpation
Agricultural Society
Berkshire
Pickle Method
Apple Pomace
What entities or persons were involved?
John Armstrong
Thomas Melville, Jr. Esq.
Letter to Editor Details
Author
John Armstrong
Recipient
Thomas Melville, Jr. Esq.
Main Argument
pouring fish, beef, and pork pickle from winter provisions effectively kills canada thistle without reappearance, as an economical method for farmers.
Notable Details
Alternative Method Considered: Spreading Apple Pomace Due To Malic Acid.
Response To Society's Inquiry On Extirpating Thistles Economically.
Not Seeking Premium.