The Times. Published on Tuesday and Friday Afternoons. Motto: Public service. TUESDAY, MAY 11, 1920. FARM PESTS.

Pukekohe & Waiuku Times, Volume 9, Issue 530, 11 May 1920, Page 2

The Times. Published on Tuesday and Friday Afternoons. Motto: Public service. TUESDAY, MAY 11, 1920. FARM PESTS.

The action of the Franklin County Council ii. insisting that the rabbit) and noxious weeds inspectors shall j be maintained at full strength is to| be commended. Praiseworthy efforts are now being made in some quar- j ters to get rid of these nuisances, [ but if there is to be any slackness in the vigilance of inspectors, or reduction in the number to cope with the work, then the efforts made hi- j thereto to rid the country of costly pests will be largely nullified. On account of the high prices recently obtained for rabbit skins a good deal of trapping and poisoning has been! carried out, but, with the drop in prices, these voluntary efforts will tend to cease. It is, therefore, doubly necessary that the riddance effected recently in some districts be a permanent gain, instead of allowing the pests again to increase in numbers. The arguments apply with

equal force to the blackberries, which I weeds, apart from their intrinsic I drawbacks as plants, have also the j very undesirable feature that they j provide excellent cover for rabbits and make it almost impossible to get at the rabbits by ordinary means. It is foolish to agitate unceasingly for new land to be cut up for settlement if we do not make the best use of what we have already. Increased production on the one hand, and increased economy on the other!

are the two basic factors by which the ravages of war must be paid for, and sustained efforts must be made | to keep the land clear of destructive things in order that every acre shall yield its utmost in pasture agricultural products.