CALIFORNIAN THISTLE.

Dominion, Volume 6, Issue 1739, 2 May 1913, Page 8

CALIFORNIAN THISTLE.

. IS IT HARMFUL TO PASTURES? • At a .meeting of farmers in Jlasterton last Saturday Mr; W. JI. Beetbam asked the opinion of Mr. A. H. Cockayne, ;GpvDrnment Biologist, concerning Califoriuuu thistle. • „ . . Mr. Gockayno replied that tins weed was uiufoi* tho jurisdiction of tho noxious weeds inspectors *uul another branch of* tho Agricultural Department. ilo would , not care to express an opinion on tho subject, as that opinion, nufflifc not bo quito iu. accord, with, that' of tho Departmental officers. ' ' In conversation with air'"A go reporter, Sir. lieetham said th'd CaJiforuian thistle liad coiuo to this country to stay, and it was a mistake .to ass uwo that it was toinff to bo -mi-nous to pasturo lands.' xlo liad, wlien lie last visited the 01<1 Coun-. try, intorviowed farmers'in "Devonshire, whore Californian thistle was very plentiful, and nono of. them looked upon tho plant a 9 a menace. On the Continent he i'ouud thousands of acres overrun with tho thistle, and pastures were', liot . seriously impaired by it. He did liot think that the farmeis of New Zealand should Ije alaTined at the spread of the. thistle."' " ' ' , 1 Sir. 11. Morn'ison'corroborated tho statement of Mr. Beethani. "He said he Irau not found the Californiail' thistle injurious to lus pastures. x ATr. Cockayno said ho was prepared to admit that California!! thistlo might not have a-serious effccfc upon pastures, '"ho pastures would, however, bo better without it. There was, always a danger., of at. Bpreadinjv to. agricultural land.