New Zealand Department of Agriculture.

Manawatu Herald, 3 August 1895, Page 2

New Zealand Department of Agriculture.

By T. W. Katx, F.L.S., &c, London.

A branch, natural size, from nature.

Professor Asa Gray, in "The Botany of California," Vol. 1., p. 403, describes this plant as follows: " Rigid, rather stout becoming much-branched, very glandular, viscid, foe'id ; leaves twice pjnnatifiecl or pinnatdy parted, and the divisions either parted or incised ; upper leaves and_ bracts Bpinescent ; cerolla blue, rarely whitish, 4 or 5 lines long, rather shorter than the Usually-entire calyx-lobes." To the ordinary observer this plant, Which grows from sin. to 14in. in height, looks as »hnueh bunches of small prickly leaves were stuck at intervals along the stem and branches, ench bvaneh being surmounted by a compact spiny -looking ball, with tiny blue flowers standing out a little beyond the circumference. Although not of recnt introduction, it seems to have spread with extraordinary rapidity during the last few years in some localities in Otago and Marlborough, and i is sometimes erroneously called " Bathurs' burr." It is also found plentifully in other places. Mr John Moore, Inspector of Stock for Marlborough, informs me that i has reoched the head of the Awatere Val

ley, having been distributed by camera is the chaff used to feed their horses. Thii is shown by the somewhat extensive patchig growing at their camping-places. Specimens have also been received from Hawkee Bay, Nelson, Auckland, and from the Wai* rarapa, in the Wellington Provincial Diitriet. A decidedly objectionable weed, and on« which threatens to become a serlovu evil. No stock will touch it, and if once it gains a hold on land it seems to take entire poi-ses-ion. Moreover, its foul smell and vl»« ;■ ciil nature are exceedingly obnoziont to travellers, In some parts of the colony this planr, and also the burr clovers or medick burn Medicago dentkulata and maculata), are iot infivqueutly called Bathurst burr (Xanthium sphwsum) ; and, as it is very lesirable to prevent such confusion, cuts -* of the true Kathurst burr and clover burr (M. denticidata) are appended for compari:on A glance at the illustrations will show that it shouUl be impossible for any one to make a mistake in identification.