RAGWORT

Rotorua Morning Post, Volume 2, Issue 333, 21 September 1932, Page 2

RAGWORT

CAN IT J3E ERADICATED? EXPlERIENCES OF PRACTICAL FARMERS WORTH NOTING. WAR WITH THE PLOUGH. In view of the serious menace to successful farming caused hy the spread of ragwort, the press in all country districts of the North Island has been urging the neeessity for attacking the weed in a systematic and comprehensive manner to secure its eradication. There can be no doubt about the danger which' has arisen from the rapid spread of this noxious weed apd it is time landowners — Crown, Native and private — in this district realised what the future will hold forth if the war is not prosecuted with determination and vigour. We have talked a lot about bush sickness, but ragwort promises to outdo it a hundred fold as an enemy to the farmer and his hanking account. Sheep and Ragwort. With' the object of placing useful information in the hands of its readers, the Waikato Independent has been interviewing practical farmers for their experiences in dealing with the pest, and it says: — The value of sbeep in keeping down ragwort has heen freely discussed and the general opinion is that sheep are all right to keep the weeds down, but only if they are put on thiclc to the acre. A dairy farmer with a small acreage could keep the ragwort down with 50 sheep hy changing them from one paddock to another, hut it is no use putting 50 sheep in a 50-acre paddock and expecting them to check ragwort. They will not eat it for preference. Sheep can control ragwort, hut only on country wliere there is a good sole of grass that will carry four or five sheep to the acre. Best Time to Spray. It is the geneial opinion that the best time to spray ragwort is the Sep-tember-October period. This is the most suitabl'3 period for the main offensive, so that most of the plants will be killed before harvesting operations come along to occupy the whole of the farmers' time. In January and February, when harvesting is over, the farms should be gone over again to deal with the small plants overlooked in the spring. Even tiny plants will send up seed-heads if left until autumn. j.uaimgatautari Farmer's Experience. A farmer of long-standing in the Maungatautari district, and one with

considerable experience in dealing with ragwort, Mr. Hicks, has farmed 1100 acres at Maungatautari and is in the position to speak with somc authority on the subject. Interviewed by an Independent representative, Mr. Hicks went back to the period 1900-2, and said there was not a sign of ragwort at Maungatautari in those days. In his opinion the first seed was blown hy the wes- | terly winds from Te Rau-a-moa (Ka- i whia district). Then the easterly winds hrought the seed from the Maimai Range, where the yellow weed hegan to grow in profusion. No notice was taken of the weed at first and it spread rapidly. "At first," said Mr. Hicks, "I used to pull the weed wherever II saw it. Realising its spreading propensities I then began to cut it regularly. I cut the weed three times during a season and this prevented the spread of the seed." | A Plough Attack. Mr. Hicks went on to remark that j one could easily discern that the seed ! of ragwort was wind-horn'e for it al- j ways came up thick against a bush j face. The cattle broke the surface of the ground and the seed-hed was ready | for germination. Mr. Hicks considers j sheep of value when put on in numbers on small plants. He had used j sheep and had never had any siekness. ; Lately Mr. Hicks purchased a further 227 acres from the Wairoa Land Company at Maungatautari. He stated , that forty acres had heen ploughed ; ana put into turnips. It was originally J thick with fern and ragwort, and while some considered that he would have j a seed-bed of ragwort this year, he helieved that another turning over would eradicate most of the weed. Grub Attacks Weed. It was mentioned by Mr. Hicks that last season he observed the stalks of the ragwort heing attacked by a small grub. It was quite different from the black grub found in the district last ■ season and to the Cinnabar gruh. It was about the size of a codlin-moth grub, hut of a purple colour.

Mr. Hicks said he examined some stalks of the ragwort last season and found that the grub had eaten out the whole of the pith from the root-base to the tops. Mr. Hicks further stated that Departmental officers had inspected the grub and pronounced it the same as found in some parts of Taranaki. Mr. Hicks intends to make further investigations this season.