THE BLACKBERRY PEST

Shannon News, 8 February 1927, Page 2

THE BLACKBERRY PEST

METHOD OF ERADICATION. A specific for the eradication of the blackberry in New Zealand, for which a reward of £IO,OOO has been offered by the Government, has been discovered it is claimed, by. W. P. Seaton, a Clevedon Farmer. Mr. Seaton is thoroughly convinced of the efficacy of his method of dealing- with the pest. He has disclosed it to the Government and ha s claimed the reward offered for a satisfactory blackberry exterminator. As a practical farmer who has'tried out his methods successfully on his own holding and who desires to benefit the farming community generally, he ha s disclosed his method to the general public. Briefly, the system of dealing, with the pest by Mr. Seaton it to cut back and fertilise the balckberry plants,' giving them a good top-dressing of manure'to force a succulent growth. The ordinary farm stock, supplemented with a few goats, if possible, are then turned on to the paddocks in which the blackberry patches exist. In a remarkably short period the jplants will be eaten out and killed. The roots will wither and dry up and the blackberry will be supplanted by a good growth of pasture. Convincing proof of the success of this method is afforded by the state of Mr. Seaton's dairy farm. When he took it over three years ago it was badly infested with blackberry and its carrying capacity was very small. To-day the property is clean and is carrying a cow to the acre, with a surplace of feed in every paddock. This result ha s been achieved by topdressing and stocking with cows, a few sheep and one goat.