GENERAL FARMING NEWS.

Dominion, Volume 7, Issue 1979, 9 February 1914, Page 10

GENERAL FARMING NEWS.

There arc indications, says Dr. Cockayne, of the Dopartment of Agriculture, that tho fungus known as Californian thistle rust may probably prove valuablci in tho control of one of our worst weeds. The fungus which causes thojdiseaso is olio of the true rusts, and its attacks aro. restricted to Californian thistle\ and cornflower (centaurea cyamis), No other plants aro subject to infection. Artificial infection- of young plants is suggested. Speaking at a banquet tendered him in Timaru last week, Sir William HallJones stated-that while in-the. Old Country, had hp had his wish carried out, he could have opened up a large, market for mutton and butter. He referred to France. . Tho President of tho French Republic, to whom ho had shown Now Zealand produce, was delighted with it, and, astonished with the prico at which it could be obtained. If that could havo been followed up-by business dealings, and conditions arranged with Franco in regard to tariffs on certain articles, it would' have been greatly to New Zealand's advantage. He might have been as successful with Franco as lie had been with Switzerland and New, York. That, however, was a work for the Government, and he believed he-could get the meat into France without any difficulty if tho proper means were used. This, of course, would mean tho increased prosperity of tho Dominion.