FARMERS’.UNION.

Gisborne Times, Volume XVII, Issue 1402, 13 March 1905, Page 3

FARMERS’.UNION.

NOXIOUS WEEDS. A mcetitta of tho Gisborne branch of the Farmers’ Uuioti was held on Saturday afternoon. Mr W. D. Lysnar, president, in the chair. There wes a fair attendance of members. Mr E. L. Monde (secretary) read the report of the committee (consisting of lha President.a id Messrs O. J. Parker, p. T. Kenway and A. J. Cameron) pet up to go ioto the matter of ragwort and Californiun thistle as follows :

The commute would strongly urge the

farmers to combine and make a united effort to keep both these weads out of this district. There is no question that they are very bad and most difficult to eradicate when once they get substantially established. At present both weeds are in this district, but very scattered, and can, at this Btege, be easily held in check, and ultimately cleared if tbs farmers will attend to them immediately they are discovered, and not, on any account, allow them to increase.

The committee have collected all the information they could and any suggestions that might assist the farmers in eradicating the weeds. They give all the suggestions so that each farmer can try whichever method is most suitable to him. The committee would earnestly ask all farmers to, as far as possible, refrain from sowiDg down clover seeds imported from the South Island, es they believe a considerable quantity of these weeds, particularly the Californian thistle, now in . this district, has been brought here in imported clover seeds, and tho'committee feei sure choro is ample good olovor seed grown locally sufficient for all purposes, and it has now been proved that locally grown cowgrass seed germinates and produces a good crop. -« Bagwort.—Thin weed, if allowed to seed, spreads very rapidly. The best and ouly sure way to eradicate ragwort is to have it pulled up before it flowers ; after it has flowered puli it up and bum it, for, if it is not burnt, the seed will mature on the stalk afier it is out. Do not cut ragwort, for the smallest particle of root left in the ground will grow, and, for this reason, -wherever ragwort has been once found the spot should bo carefully watched to see that the plant is not agaia maturing from some portion of the old roots which might have been left in the ground. Californian Thistle.—This plant spreads more slowly than ragwort, consequently farmers will have more time to oope with it. There is no royal road to cope with this plant, it being most difficult to eradicate, and this—on aceonnt of its long,

The Committee would also call the farmers’ attention to the fact that when land is held by lease and the unexpired term is less than four years, section 13 of tbo Noxious Weeds Aot, 1900, makes provision for the owner of the land contributing towards the cost of clearing the land. The Committee therefore hopo that no leaseholder will be lax in clearing his land because he holds the land under a short Case. By the same Act special provisions are made for clearing native lands, the machinery for which could be brought into effect if it is known that there are any noxious weeds on native lands not being properly attandod to. The Chairman said they had kept in view two objects in drawing up the report —eradication .of the ragwort that had found its way into the district, and keeping it out. He urged that all farmers should take steps to eradicate any ragwort appearing on their property, as it spread very rapidly. Notice should bo given to the Department at ones if ragwort was seen on Native lands. Mr R. M. Birrell seconded the adoption of the report. _Mr Campbell Thomson, Stock Inspector, said that the stock reserve at Tiniroto was simply a sea of ragwort, and he intended to put on men to clear it. when it would be kept in cultivation. The Land. Boat d should have taken steps four years ago to stamp but the pest when it made its appearance from Marumaru and Wairoa. Farmers were not alive to the danger of ragwort, and he did not know until lately that ragwort spread from the roots even after it had been chipped. A good thing to oradicato the post was to place dry salt or brine on the plant when it was being pulled, and this would kill it. It was decided “to add Mr Thomson’s suggestion to the committee’s report. -■ Mr F. Lysnar pointed out the imposeibility of eradicating ragwort in a district where travelling stock oarriod the seeds about in their wool. Mr O. Gallagher stated that the way they disposed' of ragwort in the place where he came from was to cut the plant aod pour alcohol, 32 over proof, on it. The report was adopted, and it was deoided to ask the Government to give the local Stock Inspector full powers to eradi cate ragwort from time to time on the Tiniroto reserve. It was deoirfed to seDd copies of the resolution to the Hon. J. Carroll and the Minister for Lauds. Mr A. Cameron proposed a vote of thanks to Mr Campbell Thomson for his attendance, which was seconded by Mr P. McLoughlin and carried

TYRE BYE-LA.W. Mr Herbert Brown wrote, stating tha be carriers of the district had decided to approach the County Council with a view of obtaining relaxation of the tyre by-law, as it was considered this by-law would make it impossible to use the back roads of the district. The co-operation of the Farmers’ Union was invited, and they asked to appoint a deputation to wait with the carriers on the Council. The Chairman said the Union could well ask the Council to modify their by-law. -3ix inch tyres were dangerous on roads' which they had in the district, being very j liable to skid on side cuttings. Mr Gallagher said that what the Council wanted was to stop dfrays with big loads from cutting up the roads. To limit the weight carried to a ton would effect this purpose. A committee, consisting of the Chairman, Messrs Wall and Barron, were appointed to wait on the Council conjointly with the carters. It was resolved that the deputation ask the Council to make no alteration in the width of tyres, and that waggons be limited to a ton and a half, and a dray to a ton. It was also resolved that the committee request the Council to make a track from the big bridge to the river so that stock from the sale yards could got water. Mr R. M. Birrell introduced the subject of the milk disease in dairy ca'ttle. It was decided that the matter should be discussed

at next meeting. The Chairman said there was no need for farmers to import cattle from outside districts, except bulls to improve the herds. If farmers did not buy outside cattle at : auction sales the disease ‘would be prevented from coming into their district. " Mr O. Gallagher gave notice to move at next meeting that every person who is a leaseholder should have the opportunity to obtain the freehold at Government valuation, ■ ’

deep roots—can only be done by continuously worrying ut» it in a systematic way for a considerable lime, the length o this depending entirely on the .amount of attention given, but tiio surest way of getting rid of it seems to bo by a process of bleeding, by either continuously cutting or pulling it as it matures. The plants gradually get less and less, until they finally disappear. In some eases it will take four or five years to completely eradicate a patch if it is not vigorously attended to. The following suggestions have been made to the Committee as tbe best moans of dealing with this thistle : (a) Bleed tho plant to death by either having the thistle pulled by using ordinary leather gloves (when it will be found that the root will break off about 6in below the ground) or out it level with the ground. Either of these processes should be done about once a month daring the summer months, and leas often during the winter months, according to the growth of the plant, (b) Allow tho plant to fully develop, but keep nipping off the flowers, and when it is fully gcown cut tho etem a few inches above the ground, and on account of the plant having a hollow stem and root,when matured water will get down.whioh causes the root to rot and dio, or it is suggosted poison should bo poured down tho hollow root, but lf-poison is used tho spot should be fenced off, otherwise there ib a danger of tho stock being poisoned. (o) Make a sheet out of any old bagging and cover it with a mixture of ooal tar and grease—two parts of tar to one of grease—boated sufficiently to have it thoroughly mixed ; then let it cool to a little more than blood heat; then spread on bags, but do not put it on too hot, as it has a tendency to burn the bagging ; peg this down on the ground wherever the thistleß are growing, and leave it there until it rots, which will be a considerable time, as the tar preserves tho bagging, b sides having an injurious effect on the plant. It would be best to tar the bagging after it has been put over the plants, and if the plant should break through any part put a fresh piece of bag on the broken pait, then re tar and keep renewing tbe baggiDg until there are no signs of life left in the plants. (d) Cover tho spot where the thistle is jrowiDg close to the ground with either soards or galvanised iron, bo as to exolude light and air. Unless it is found that these weeds still oontinue to increase, the Committee would not reoommend in the meantime asking the Government to stop the importation of clover seeds from the South, but tho Committee hope that wheu the farmers* attention is drawn to the danger they will not run any risks by using the Southern seed.