RAGWORT DESTRUCION

Hawke's Bay Herald-Tribune, Volume 81, Issue 73, 18 December 1937, Page 3

RAGWORT DESTRUCION

Success with Seed-FIy HAMILTON, Dec. 13. An inspection of the destruction done to ragwort by the seed-fly — its natural enemy — was carried out at Mr. A. Riggir's propert-y, Putaruru, to-day by a large party, which included the Minister of Lands, the Hon. F. Langstone, Dr. D. Miller, of the Cawthron Institute, Mr. A. F. Moncur, M.P. for Rotorua, and Government officials. The seed-fly, which has been brought to New Zealand from Scotland, was first liberated on Mr. Riggir/s farm in February; 1936, and since then large quantities have been liberated, and the attack on ragwort has progressed rapidly. This year the fly has been more active than ever, and Mr. Riggir stated to-day that if the present visible evidence of the manner in which the insect destroyed ragwort was any guide, there could be no doubt that tho weedmenace was conquered. The visitors to Mr. Riggir's property to-day saw in the open field exactly what they had seen in the laboratory at Nelson — the ragwort flowers attacked and in various stages of destruction. Dr. liller has been requested to hand a full report to the Government on the results of tho experiment. Mr. Riggir explained that the work was not a private concern, but was a national undertaking, the funds being subscribed by anyone interested. It was intended to liberate the seed-fly {over all ragwort-infested areas as soon •as possible.