WAR ON BLACKBERRY

Shannon News, 13 May 1927, Page 1

WAR ON BLACKBERRY

, EXPERIMENTS AT WAIROA.

Experiments in Wairoa treating blackberry with a new exterminator were mentioned, at the Bay Farmers’ Union meeting last week, when the following letter was received from Mr O. C. Ormerod: —

“I am keenly interested In the problem of noxious weed eradication generally and of tKe blackberry in particular. If the correct acreage, in the Dominion rendered useless, or seriously infested by undesirable, plant growth could be as--certained —I am very certain that the figure would be astounding. I have read with much interest Dr Tillyara's report of his scientific investigations, in Europe and America, re the ad* vlsability and advantages of introducing into New Zealand insects that are natural enemies of the various weed 'pests. It wouldtbe satisfactory to know the approiimate rate of distribution of those insects, which it is proposed to'acclimatise, and the length of time that it will take for them to make l an appreciable reduction in the areas infested by,blackberry, I presume some years. In the meantime weed pests are spreading alarmingly. Very satisfactory expertments have recently been carried out In Wairoa, by means of an Australian weed exterminator. It has been demonstrated that if the plants are treated at the proper- season of the year, viz, when the sap is falling—that the root vitality is so Seriously J damaged that in some instances roots to the depth of eighteen inches have been destroyed. This is my own observation. I think, however, that the Australian manufacturers of the exterminator have taken a wise attitude, so far as its use on New Zealand blackberry is Concerned, in requesting l that the mixture be tried out and judged on its merits. Strange to say grass is scarcely affected, -nor is-the miture at all dangerous to stock, or damaging to the hands.' * Specimens of roots treated with the exterminator were forwarded by Mr Geo. Howell, of Wairoa, who though not claiming the treatment would eradicate blackberry, suggested that nearly every root was affected fo the ’ extent that it would : check further growth. It was suggested that the roots should be passed on to Mr. W. D. Lysnar, M.P., with a view to •arousing his interest iii the treatment/ The president (Mr M. T. Trafford) stated that it seemed to be the best exterminator placed on the market so far, and the patentees were very fair in that they wished it to be tested first before they sold it in the Dominion in hulk. l;

Mr F. S. Bowen suggested that as the Department of Agriculture had offered £IO,OOO for a specific to eradicate blackberry, he thought that the exterminator should b© referred to the Department for investigation and analysis to see what it was composed of, and to ascertain its walue as a specific in treating blackberry.

The president pointed out that the

department ’ could experiment - with the spray on the experimental plot at Wairoa. In regard to the insects which Dr Tillyard had suggested should be introduced, lie said it wasnot known'how long It would take for them to become acclimatised and it would, In his opinion, hot bepossible to breed them fast enough to cope with the, growth of blackberry. The specimens of blackberry treated had been withered at the roots in a few days. However as the extermina-' tor had successfully killed Californian thistle and other weeds it might be worth while to experiment with it in spraying similar weeds in this, district. He had been given a small quantity of the exterminator for experiments. The statement that the official tests were not complete indicated >that apparently the Government was investigating the effect of the specific. Further, Mr Trafford recalled that Mr-Ormerod -' had informed him that the Government officers were experimenting .with tha. exterminator, and he suggested- that the Union should write to the Department of Agriculture asking them to report on the results of the investigation^

It whs decided to write to Mr. Ormerod thanking him for the Information, and to write to the Department of Agriculture requesting them to report direct- to the Union the results of their investigations regarding the effect of the exterminator on blackberry.