RAGWORT CONTROL

Gisborne Herald, Volume LXVI, Issue 20088, 7 November 1939, Page 13

RAGWORT CONTROL

WORK IN WAIROA COUNTY

MEN ALREADY EMPLOYED

TWO GANGS OF SIX (Special lo the Herald.) WAIROA, this day. “It was anticipated that this year the department would be able to carry out a big scale of operations on the eradication of ragwort in the Wairoa district, but owing to the allocation of money for this district having been reduced considerably, the department is unable to do all that was hoped,” stated Mr. G. F. Hudson, officer of the Department of Agriculture an Wairoa. when interviewed by the Herald’s representative.

“However,” added Mr. Hudson, “it is intended to carry out operations in such a way as to curtail the spread of the weed as much as possible.” He stated that already men had commenced work on the clearing of ragwort. Recently six men had started operations in the Waikaremoana district dusting the ragwort with atlacide. Another gang of six men commenced work yesterday at Ruakituri, the scheme being carried out by the County Council on behalf of the Department of Agriculture. It was pointed out that the work done last year had proved to be very effective, and this year similar operations would be carried out.

Mr. Hudson appealed to the farming community to endeavour to keep all ragwort on their properties from seeding. Last year, he added, it was noticed that odd plants on a number of properties were allowed to seed. It was these odd plants which might lead to a much more serious infestation of clean property". He also drew the attention of those farmers whom it might concern, that lack of attention to the control of ragwort would be treated as a very serious matter.