RAGWORT THRIVING.

Dominion, Volume 2, Issue 437, 20 February 1909, Page 3

RAGWORT THRIVING.

A DANGER TO FARMERS. Ragwort is growing very well on i the rail-, way line.; and'other, sections between Rangataua an'd Tarimarunui: (writes our travelling representative). The weed, with its dirty yellow flower and sickly odour, is now on tho point v 6f. blooming,' ; and its presence in the vicinity-of the sources of the Wanganui and Rangitikei Rivers, is' fraught ■•' with tho greatest;danger. to abig area of-North Island : farm landdrained by those streams. * i The large' pafehea of.ragwort which are so plainly in .evidence on the Main Trunk, line are an: evidence of tho rapid growth of the wrotchcd weed, and - ; with; : its seeds strewn; into the {streams, 'farmers, whose properties may be touched: by. the waters" may expect; a rather, weary time. It was mentioned some: days ago at a meeting of the unemployed at Wellington that the Government .might;, find' work for ,those who. require itby setting them, /the task of clearing the noxious weeds'off the' Governmenti.sections.. Months , ago,;-a Cabinet is 'reported to havo stated that; the expense of such a job would ruin almost any Government; This may be spjbut there is' no doubt that, as things'stand now.,the, presence of the great quantity of ragwort: on :the,:. Main Trunk railway line areas threatens .to reduce the incomes _ ofmany of our North Island sheep and dairy farmers. -V It should bo, noted also that Californian thistle is also very much in . evidenco between Ohakune and Taumarunui.