The Daily News. MONDAY, FEBRUARY 15, 1902. NOXIOUS WEEDS.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume XXIV, Issue 52, 17 February 1902, Page 2

The Daily News. MONDAY, FEBRUARY 15, 1902. NOXIOUS WEEDS.

Thk Hawera Star, commenting on the igitatiou regarding,noxious weeds Very sensibly siys:—" We notice that settle u have in several cases applied to the local authorities requesting; that steps be taken for the eradication of noxious weeds. Really, this duty is net cast upon local authorities, wbo hare simply power to declare certain plants Hoxiouss teds' within thiir jurisdiction. The obligation to clear nox'ous weeds is cast entirely upon tb« 01 cupiers of the lands, and under the Noxious Weeds Act of 1900, when such land abuts on a road the boundaries of che land on each side of the road shall, for the purpose ef this Act, be deemed to be extended to the centre of the road, and the occupier of the land shall accordingly be deemed t.o be the oc cupier of so much of the road as is w.thin such extended boundaries. The powefr to compel the removal of noxieus weeds rests with the Government, who appoint inspectors (in thi« district the stock inspector) to c*rry out the provisions of the Act referred to. One weed in particular which threatens te become a curse to th's district is the roawort, or ragweed, and in this connection we have been shown a letter which may bs of interest to many. Thewriter says: There is something I should like to put before you with re gard to a weed which is beginning to overrun the province, and which is already assuming dangerous proportions near loglewood. I ref«r to tie common ragwort, or seneciojacoboeus of science. In p-or soil it spreads very quickly, and is a menace to agriculture, and no stock will eat it. In England the larva of the cinnabar mo'h feeds exclusively oa this weed, and I am inclined to think it might act a? a check to the weed. Of course there is the possibility that it might attack something of value, but I do not think it likely; anyhow, I consider jhjts it is wort en

exhaustive enquiries about. The insect would be imported very readily io the the pupa state if it was kept cool through the tropics. At far as I know, the larva turns to a chrysalid under-; ground .beside the root of the ragwort and the imago appears to lay it eggs on the plant before it oomes into flowßr, so that the lame, if in sufficient quantities, Might prevent it, blooming. I am almost certain' that the pupa remains buried through the winter, btu it would*be as well to make sura, If this is the case, nothing would be easier than to get a few hundred chrysalids abeut September, and deposit them in the ground here in November, when the warmth of the sun would bring them out in readiness to lay their eggs en the ragwort before it blooms."