THE CALIFORNIAN THISTLE

Ashburton Guardian, Volume VII, Issue 1723, 23 December 1887, Page 3

THE CALIFORNIAN THISTLE

.» The Oalifornlsn thistle, about which there haß lately been co much talk, has been found lv considerable quantity m the nelghboihood of Temuka. Specimens of it are to be Been at the Terauka Road Board office, and farmers who are as yet unaware of the appearance of the plant will do well to make themselves acquainted with it The specimens m question have been furnißhed by Mr T. Parke, of Mllford, and he deserves all praise for the trouble he has taken to bring the matter into notioe. Iv is Bald that the plant Is more difficult to eradicate than any of the other now numerous noxious weeds that* farmers have to contend with. The roots are tough and jointed, and the smallest < portion left m the soil ia sufficient to produce a plant. The ordinary methods of scarifying or hoeing are thus comparative]; useless. Mr Faonel!, of the Land Office, Tlmiru, and Mr Murphy, of the Ghiistonuroh A. and P. Association, Invite farmers to correspond *ith them on this subject, with tha view of stepi being taken for its eradication. It will doubtless also have been noted that Mr Mackecz'e, the member for Clntha, has moved m the matter m the House of Representatives, As bearing on the Bubj-'cf, the following letter sent to Mr Murphy by Mr W. Thompson of Burnham may be interesting: — " Daar Sir, I see the question of the Oalifornian thistle has been brought before your Association. I presume tbia thistle ia Bimilar, If not the same, as the Canadian thistle, and if, bo save us from It. I spent some years m Upper Canada, and there it takea possession of the land, especially If the soil is good It grows from throe to blz feet high, and as thick as wheat, and rooted to a depth of ten feet where the soil will admit. To eradicate this peat is next to Impossible, aa I think every locb of the roots will grow, therefore to work the soil only favors Its growth. If you wiah to see the thistle raaeter of the situation, take a trip to Upper Canada and travel along the banks of Lake Ontario from Kingston to Toronto, and there you trill see the thistle m its home. As a pest I would place it against all our other weedi here."—" Temuka Leader"