RAGWORT CONTROL

Bay of Plenty Beacon, Volume 9, Issue 36, 4 January 1946, Page 2

RAGWORT CONTROL

FARMERS' UNION CONCERN

STANDING AREAS TO BE CUT

Arising out of the discussion following receipt of a letter from the Waimana branch of the Farmers' Union the Wh'akatane County Council decided last Tuesday to authorise the cutting and burning of standing areas of ragwort in the badly infested districts owing to the shorty ;ige of lime supplies.. The letter draw attention to the fact that ragwort gangs. were now chipping the plants instead of spraying. This method was considered unsatisfactorily and the Union added that the men concerned were willing to use the .sodium spray and to take the risk of any consequences. This contention was backed up by Cr Wardlaw avlio said that the plant was now coming into flower and immediate" steps Avere r.ecessai-y to

arrest its spread. The Engineer (Mr C. 11. Breb r ner) agreed that in certain parts the ragwort was becoming a real menace. He mentioned Waimana and Rewatu, and suggested that the gangs should be increased in those areas to deal quickly with the growth. In certain places he bad actually to mow it and burn it, where it had got away. Cr McGougan mentioned certain places near Yv"hakatane where large patches of the weed were nourishing, and suggested that it too could be mown raked and burnt. Cr Hunter: If you out the seed merely ripens and broadcasts in the same way.

Cr McGougan: It's not such a menace as when standing. It was decided to empower the engineer to take the necessary steps to have the Avorst patches cut and burnt and further to write the Union advising that when atlacide was again available spraying would be resorted to but this season- seeing only sodium was available and sodium was extremely dangerous owing to fire hazard to sprayers that sodium-lime mixture is being used —further that chipping was being used—further that chipping the accident on the instructions of the Agriculture Department, and pending the delivery of lime supplies.