THE FARMERS' NEW TROUBLE

Ashburton Guardian, Volume VII, Issue 1731, 4 January 1888, Page 3

THE FARMERS' NEW TROUBLE

THE OALIFOHMAN THISTLE.

In reference to the spread of the Californian Thistle m New Zealand, Mr Thomas Mocker zie, M.H.R, Bale utha, writes to the " Lyttelton Times " tbat he finds it is making much greater headway m that dißtrict than be at 6r«t imagined. On Tuesday ho visited a farm which was fearfully invested. The owner had fenced m one patch of about seven acres, and if he can secure a lot rf pigs will try that plan. The "Lyttellon Times" urges upon farmers t'*o necessity of catting the thistle at once to prevent seeding. The plants will be m flower In Otago m about a week. We fear the idea of turning pige to root, out the weed will oDly make matters worse, as every litt'e bit of root wlil grow into a fresh plant. The system we pointed out a year ago of cutting the thlfetle before flowering, and of constantly hoeing the ground, will be found sn effective, if tedious, remedy, We may also repeat the suggestion, baaed on American experience, tbat heavy cropping with grase for three seasons may prove effectual. The application of chloride of lime and of (pmmon baoon •alt, have exterminated the peßt m some places, and we hear from Viotoria of a newly patented chemical weed destroyer, with whioh successful experiments hays b«en made.