New Zealand Department of Agriculture.

Manawatu Herald, 23 January 1894, Page 3

New Zealand Department of Agriculture.

JOHN 1). HITCH IE. Secretary. • ' LEAFLETS FOR FARMERS, No. 1.

With a view to disseminating as widtly farmers and others, it has been decided to trated leaflets, giving in as brirff a form ns able on the subject; ti-eatf-rl of. May, IS9B. "

A slender, prostrate, spreading annual ; sometimes assuming a partially erect habit. The leaves resemble j those of White clover, and are eom- j posed of three abovate leaflets, with toothed margins. The stipules or appendages at the base of the leaves are deeply toothed. The flowers are small, yellow, and axillary. The seedpod is twisted spirally, the whorls being somewhat compressed, and the edges armed with curved hook prickles, forming a burr, which measures rather more than half an inch in diameter. This plant is now found in most parts of the colony, especially on light soils. It grows early, and produces a quantity of good feed, for which horses and sheep show a great partiality ; but it dies back on the approach of dry weather. A second crop is frequently produced after late summer rains, It is a very free seeder«—a fact sometimes taken advantage of by mice, th^y being exceedingly fond of the seed. probably on ..account of the oil it contains ; small heaps of burrs may frequently be found, an examination ■#whioh will show that the pods Wiave been dexterously opened, and the contents extracted. Another but IfJSS common species is also found here, viz., the Black Medick {Medicayo maeulata). It is ver^lilw^tneabbve, but the leaves arejusjiaUy^ marked; with a black blotch, and the burrs are larger.

as possible inioimauon übC-I'ui 10 issue from time to time illuspo«.=ible the information uvnii•TOHN ]». TMTOHTK.

I No pains should be spared to rid cultivated ground and pasture of these weeds. From their prostrate | habit they smother more useful and permanent plants. Moreover, if I allowed to grow for a time without disturbance thf>y produce great numbers of burrs, which are extremely injurious to wool, depreciating its value very considerably, and becoming entangled in the fleece, are curried many miles from the parent plants, thus spreading the pest. The extermination of this weed, at least from fenced pasture, should not be difficult. Remember that the plant is an annual, and that anything which will prevent its seeding will suppress it. The remedy therefore, is to stock heavily during the flowering season, or where the plants are not numerous mow them down before seeding. The burr clovers have been' referred to by some colonial newspapers, as the Bathur9t burr, thus causing considerable confusion. A comparison of the cuts will show I that such a mistake should be imj possible. The burr clovers are l weak, prostrate plants, while the | Bathurst burr is stout and shrubby, ■sometimes attaining a height of several feet, with strong spines springing from near the base of the leaves. The burr is oval, hard and nut like. T. W. KIRK.