BLACKBERRY on ROADSIDES

Bay of Plenty Beacon, Volume 4, Issue 113, 4 June 1941, Page 4

BLACKBERRY on ROADSIDES

Sir, —I notice, more" in sorrow than in anger, that there are a few pat-, ches of blackbejrjy growing in drains on roads of the Rangitaiki Plains. Just now the blackberry leaves are getting autumn tints, so Iqpk quite pretty. It is a pity that -Someone.does not get to work with a slasher or something and deal with these few blackberry plants before the herds carry the seed; all over the Plains. I havei heard that it is a joke on the West; Coast of the South Island that there is only one blackberry bush there —but it extends right along the coast. I have read about' drainage authorities in Thames Valley and Waikato having to pass special by-laws to force landowners to deal with blackberry in drains. We haye hundreds of miles of drains on the Plains. Let us hope the time will not come when our drains are bordered by blackberry, as seems to be the case in older settled retelaimed swamp land. Of course, legally the onus is on landowners to keep their road frontages clear of weeds, including blackberry, but that law is more honoured in the breach than the observance. Perhaps our recently reelected councillors will take notice of this and send along a workman with a slasher to these blackberry patches. But it is most unlikely. Yours etc., B. LACK BERRY.