CONTROL OF RAGWORT

Hokitika Guardian, 16 May 1930, Page 2

CONTROL OF RAGWORT

THE SPRAYING METHOD,

WELLINGTON, May 13

According to a statement madoito- : di\y by the Minister of Agriculture (the Hon. G. W. Forbes), Considerable interest has been aroused as the result of the publication by the Department of Agriculture of its important discovery that, spraying w tli a solution of sodium chlorateris' an effective and .cheap method of destroying ragwort. “i am receiving numerous inquiries as to- cost and as to whore the ;material Can be produced,” said the Minister, “and it is therefore necessary for me to supplement the report with some further information. 1 have been making inquiries regarding the probable cost of sodium chlorate in the Dominion, and am now in reoeipt of a cablegram from the High Commissioner that the f.o,h. cost of sodium chlorate from British ports is approximately £22 per ton, and at this figure the material should be sold in New Zealand at a price within the reach of most of our settlers, as a pound will be sufficient for from four to eight gallons‘of spray, depending upon the height of the ragwort plants. The spraying method, so far ns the material is concerned, can be looked uipbh as a ’very cheap one. On moderately infested land, it should cost only a few pence per acre, but where the ragwort is solid Jt may min Up to 5s or more, ” 1 '‘Some, time ago,' when I realised that sodium chlorate was likely 'to prove an effective means .of control, I placed an order for five tons of the material, and this will be arriving in New Zealand in a few weeks’ time. The proposal is to use it for demonstration purposes in all ragwort-in-fested districts, so as. to educate farmers bow and in wliat stiengths the material should be used. The experimental work of the past" season has clearly shown that the most effective time to control ragwort by podium chlorate is in the spring months, arid the demonstration, trials fhat are in contemplation will 'he started, iu the North Island in curly August.” '