The Ashburton Guardian. Magna est Veritas et Prævalebit. TUESDAY, JANUARY 10, 1888. THE CALIFORNIAN THISTLE.

Ashburton Guardian, Volume VII, Issue 1736, 10 January 1888, Page 2

The Ashburton Guardian. Magna est Veritas et Prævalebit. TUESDAY, JANUARY 10, 1888. THE CALIFORNIAN THISTLE.

According to the information supplied m a paper by Mr Murphy, Secretary of the Canterbury Agricultural and Pastoral Association, read at a meeting of the Committee held last week, it appears that that noxious plant, the Californian this tie, which has wrought such havoc m Tasmania, is already more widely distributed m this provincial district than bad been at all suspected. Indeed there are persons who have had it growing on their land for years without recognising tt or being aware how dangerous a pest they were permitting to spread until they had had the opportunity of comparison with specimens of the thistle kept at Mr Murphy's office for that purpose, since when they have adopted vigorous measures for iis eradication. As a proof of its prevalence, Mr Murphy mentions the following list of localities where it is now growing, viz — Temuka, Longbeach, Ashburton, Springston, Spreydon, Dunsandel, Kiccarion, Merivale, the Kadcliffe Estate (Chaney's Corner), the Harewood road (5 acres), at least three places on Kaiapoi Island, and Governor's Bay. This is serious news indeed, and as two of the localities mentioned are m this county it is high time to warn the County Council and the farmers to bestir themselves with a view to preventing :he extension of the mischief. The Council has power to deal with he matter by by law, and can apply a part of the county revenue for this purpose if it so think fit — indeed it ippears to us not to be necessary to trait for further legislation by Parliament, as clause 292 of the Counties Act, 1886, distinctly gives of implies ill necessary powers. The clause eferred to, which was introduced, by-he-bye, on the motion of Mr Ivess, reads as follows ;•— " The Council may, rom time to time, contribute out of be funds of the county such sum or < suras of money as it may be dee wet} ; 1

necessary to expend for the purpose of I eradicating or preventing the spread of any noxious weed or plant ; and before enforcing any by-law made for such purpose, shall use all necessary means to eradicate such weed or plant from all loads, riverbeds, reserves, and lands under the control of the county." One of the means to be taken to prevent ».he spread of the pest is that proposed to be enforced under " The Californian Thistle Bill," introduced last session by Mr T. Mackenzie (and which will doubtless be persisted with next session), viz., the cutting down of the plants before blooming, but as this thistle, unlike the Scotch and, other varieties, spreads from the root, after the manner of sorrel and couch-grass, cutting down and the prevention ot seeding will be by no means a complete remedy. Mr Murphy states (on the authority of the Tasmanian Inspector of Californian Thistles) that hoeing, season after season is the best course to adopt. He says — referring to the report of the Inspector—" J find that several farmers, alter three years persistent hoeing, succeeded m eradicating the plant. This method appears to have been more successful than that of covering over with litter, although the latter answers very well if properly attended to." j Mr Murphy agrees with the Inspector I m the view "that m those districts where the thistle has not yet taken : complete possession of the soil, its : entire eradication should be insisted on, allowing a reasonable time for doing so, say two, or even three, years " and that nothing short of " insisting on the ; entire extermination of the plant . wherever and m whomsoevei's land , growing" will suffice :o avert the [ threatened danger. And the magnitude . of the danger which threatens our ! agriculture it the pest be not promptly ■ t and vigorously coped with can scarcely » be exaggerated, for once let it get head* way and thousands of acres will be rendered absolutely valueless, indeed 1 it is impossible to say how far the | mischief may spread. Mr Murphy's t paper is a very opportune one and will we trust lead to instant and deter- | mined action, for he very truly observes that the Californian thistle " if neglected will be to the Canterbury farmers what the rabbit has been to the Otago sheep- ! farmers."