CALIFORNIAN THISTLE.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LIV, Issue 190, 9 February 1912, Page 5

CALIFORNIAN THISTLE.

i BLESSING OR CURSE? ' MINISTER SAYS BLESSING. By Telegraph—Press Association. Wellington, Last Night. Mr. T. Mackenzie, "Minister of Agriculture, his long left that the Californian thistle, from being a cause of loss to the , farmer, might .under certain conditions • be turned to profit. Last year he visited a district where the weed luid really got beyond control. In consequence, he sent one of the Department's field instructors to. the district, to conduct demonstrations for utilising the thistle in ensilage making. The director of the division, after inspecting, reported that the season was rather far advanced for treatment. Instructions were then given to have the matter dealt with early this year.. This has now been done. Mr. Mackenzie received reports in connection, therewith. These show that some l(bg« tofcks have been built. One recently completed was 35ft by 25ft, with a height of some 14ft. It is estimated to contain about 250 tons of ensilage, and its value for feed purposes is computed ■ at This particular stack consists?©? Werinajliive layers of thistle, green oats and'"green wheat, with a sprinkling o»«*g>iculturai salt to every second teyerTßf fodder, about 5 cwt. being used. Tie experience of farmers is that , stock will eafc'fcbiß ensilage before any s other feed is offered them. It is Mr. Maekenzie'sfdesire to have made as widely kafavn ai possible the fact that the servicer of an "expert from the Department! ,are avaßKble to instruct farmers in tkfc.makii|'of ensilage.