THE ERADICATION OF RAGWORT.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LII, Issue 8, 3 February 1909, Page 4

THE ERADICATION OF RAGWORT.

To the Editor. Sir—One of your correspondents writes tliat ragwort is showing where it has never been seen before. 1 write to .say that I have discovered a specific for the total eradication of all noxious weeds. The enclosed cutting from the Poverty liay Herald will explain fully its effect, cost, etc. 1 am prepared to give free tests in this district, or visit any part of New Zealand, if inducement offers, and treat large or small areas of land, as per arrangement. Trusting this information will be of interest to you and your readers, 1 am, etc., THOS. LONG. Makavaka, Gisborae. [Enclosure.] ■For many years efforts have been made to discover a specific capable of effectively destroying California!! thistle and other noxious weeds which threaten the pastures of the Dominion, and are, in fact, already making alarming progres sin this district. Tlie discovery, therefore, of a mixture which is claimed to be capable of .effectively eradicating thistle, briar, ragwort, and blackberry, as well as other weeds, will bo noted with great interest by farmers, especially so in this district, as the inventor is a local resident, Mr. Thomas Long, of llatokimatoki. Mr. Long, who has taken out the patent rights of his discovery, informed a Derail' representative that his specific was under offer to the Government at the present time, arid if it withstood a six months' trial, as lie was confident it would, he was to receive .C15,0W. Tile eradicator will, we understand, be submitted! to a. two years' test, to cover a couple 08 seasons. Mr. Long added that 011 his property at llatokimatoki he was able to show patches which had been treated two years ago and were to-day without a Wade of grass. Tlie eradicator, lie said, completely destroyed all vegetable growth until the ground was turned over. On November 0 last ail experiment was tried, he added, at Waihirere, where to-ilav the patches are as bare as a table. The eradicator. Mi. Ixmg explained, could be applied equally effectively at any season, with the weeds standing or cut, and in 24 hours the effect was visible. After a lapse of fourteen days, California]! thistle, he ; claimed, could be pulled out wilh lira or 12in of the roots, the latter perished and black, whilst a week was sufficient to do the same with ragwort. The mixture, tile inventor went 011 lo say, could be manufactured very cheaply—7d for a kerosene tin of four gallons, and he was in hopes of further reducing the cost of production. Mr. Long recently obtained bis iirst commission from Mr. Kau'lkner, or Jluviwai, where he is to receive ,C 5 for eradicating tlie weeds 011 a quarter of ail acre. Two offers, llr. Long added in conclusion, had been received from private concerns for the purchase of the secret, which ,in fact, ■would be more remunerative to him than his offer to the Government, and lie would lie quite satisfied to receive the Department's certificate of approval. ' The official test will be watched with I considerable interest.