NOXIOUS WEEDS.

Manawatu Herald, Volume L, Issue 40043, 24 December 1929, Page 2

NOXIOUS WEEDS.

“THE END IN SIGHT.”

“If present anticipations are realised, the Field Division feels sure an end is in sight to many of the weed problems confronting the far- . rner at the present day,’.’ stated. Mr. J. W. Deem, Director of the Field’s Division of the Department of Agriculture, referring to experiments on the chemical control of noxious weeds at Palmerston North yesterday. The Field Division had recently obtained from overseas small con- ' signments of sodium chlorate and calcium chlorate, with a view to gathering first-hand knowledge of the effectiveness of these chemicals as couti’ollants -of noxious weeds, he said. The material had only been " received a short time ago, but quite a comprehensive series of experiments had already been put in hand. Sodium chlorate and calcium chlorate were being tried out first, mainly., on (ragwort, Californian thistle, goat’s me and blackberry. “Title results to date of the, applications made are distinctly promising,” declared Mr. Deem, “find the question of at what strength, find at what time of application the spray solutions give best- results are now being worked out. The chemicals .mentioned, being nonpoisonous to stock, certainly promise well. At present commercial supplied aye not available in ! New Zealand, but if the results of the present experiments are satisfac- . tory, arrangements for fall • plies will he made before next season.”