Nodding Thistle On Farms Prevalent

Taupo Times, Volume XIV, Issue 56, 20 July 1965, Page 1

Nodding Thistle On Farms

Prevalent

Heavy infestations of nodding thistle concerned the Taupo County noxious weeds inspector when the council met last week. Mr J. Adams reported that there was a prevalence of nodding thistle on some properties. One paddock he had inspected, which was in new grass, was heavily infested. It was his opinion, Mr Adams said, that the thistle seed must have been in the grass seed. He had requested the farmer to give urgent attention to the matter of clearing the thistle. All farms would be inspected for this weed, and the possibiiity of its seed being in grass seed investigated.

With one exception, farmers were co-operating well in the eradication of noxious weeds, Mr Adams said. Ragwort was now showing on farms and most farmers were attending to its eradication, either by spraying or by topdressirig with hormophos. Several farmers , whose properties had been heavily infested had already used hormophos. It was his opinion, and that of the Department of Agriculture's field officer, that the use of hormophos was the best treatment, Mr Adams said. He also thought it more economic, as the farmer topdressed and dealt with ragwort in the one job.