THE NOXIOUS SHRUB "LANTANA"

Dominion, Volume 12, Issue 107, 30 January 1919, Page 6

THE NOXIOUS SHRUB "LANTANA"

Sir,—l write to thank you for publishing my letter ro tho noxious shrub called "lantr.ua," and the "knowair reply given by Mr. Pope. Secretary for Agriculture, to your representative rqgarding same. No doubt a similar reply was given by some official when the introduction of rabbits or gorse to this counlry was first objected to. 1 _ think it was because I drew the attention of the Department to the curse of lnntniin that; the article appeared in the August number of the "Agricultural Journal." Tho writer of the article admits knowing very little about the shrub that is causing tho trouble. He describes hintana as a highly-ornamental plant, but from information I have had from Sydney many of the suburbs there are very sorry this highly-ornamental curse was introduced into the garden?. This plant earned the name of "the planter's curse" in Ceylon, and I hope the Agricultural Department will take the necessary steps to prevent it becoming "the farmer's curse" in this country, and they can only do tluit by eradicating every plant at present in New Zealand, and' preventing the introduction of any more. Lantana like.s the climate of TTawko's Bay and Auckland. As for llr. Pope saying it could not stnnd the slightest frost, if lie would go along to the Botanical Garden in Wellington ho will find lantana there thiil. does not object to the Wellington climate.—T am., etc., p. HEBENTON, Secretary, Wairnrcipa District Farmers' Union. January 28.