RAGWORT PEST

Hokitika Guardian, 11 July 1930, Page 2

RAGWORT PEST

SPRAYING WITH SODIUM CHLORATE.

MANY ORDERS FOR I’UMPS. It is estimated that at least eight thousand farmers in New Zealand will he spraying to kill the ragwort pest during the coining spring, largely as the result of the demonstration given by Mr J. W. Dee in, Director of the Fields Division of the Department of Agriculture in Taranaki, recently. Mr Deem then proved conclusively to the seven hundred farmers who attendee! the demonstration that ragwort could be killed by spraying with a solution of sodium chlorate. A Christchurch firm has been deluged with orders for knapsacks spray pumps, principally for the Taranaki district. “The demand lias come all in a rush,”- said Air Holland, one of the principals of tlio firm this week. \Ve have had to treble our staff, and are working overtime. Where we used to make about fifty, of this type of pump in a year, we are now making tbe same number in a week. If we don’t get another order, we have enousrh work to last us till Christmas," Air Holland attributed the unprecedented demand for pumps to the success of the demonstration in Taranaki. Ragwort was very bad in thatprovince, but in tbe Waikato, and through the North Island generally it grew in abundance, There was almost as much ragwort in ‘iSouitlilaiid, but he had received no orders for pumps from there.

THIRTY DEAIONSTRATORS. The fact that ragwort could be controlled seemed to have come home to farmers all at once. The Agricultural Department intended to put on thirty demonstrators to show how the pest should l>e treated, -- and pumps for them had already been ordered. The retail cost of the pump was about £4, and it weighed fourteen pounds empty.

The best time to spray with sodium chlorate was in the: early spring. The spray was practically : harmless to stock, while it actually benefited the grass. *

In tlie North ragwort was a very serious pest. Air Holland said he had been told by agricultural, experts that when sheep who had been feeding: on it were moved to fresh grass many of them died. The poison in the plant seemed to dry up the. livers of sheep. Moreover, it spoilt pastures, and was even a bigger nuisance to the North Island farmer than was Californian thistle to the Canter bury farmer,

CALIFORNIAN THISTLE. The amount of ragwort in Canterbury is not great, but here spraying with sodium, chlorate assumes a: fresh significance, for it may prove the means of eradication of Californian thistle. The result^'of tlie trials of Lincoln College in this' connexion show that they have obtained' an 80 per cent, kill with this spray, but that continued treatment' seems to be necessary 1 for complete eradication. Otago and Southland,' however, have tlie ragwort to combat, and Air Holland considers that once the = success of tlie treatment becomes known farmers all over New Zealand who are troubled by ragwort will resort to spraying.

PIIIOE OF SODIUM CHLORATE. He understood that no supplies of sodium chlorate would be arriving in New Zealand until August. Enquiries made from some of the Ghristchurcli merchants showed that they had little in stock. According to the representative of one firm, there had been a brisk demand for the product in the autumn, and they had then sold all they had. Another merchant said he had handled only one-quarter of a ton of sodium chlorate, and this had been all for one client.. It appeared, however, that the demand was going to increase, but he did no think there would be any arriving in New Zealand for some time. One big firm with branches all over New Zealand sells the product at from fivepence to sevenpence per pound, according to the quantity ordered. Another firm quoted it at sevenpence, hut it was stated that it had not been sold in Christchurch at anything like Is 6d a pound, which was the price that members in the House this week complained that some North Island merchants were charging.