NOXIOUS WEEDS

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LVII, Issue 181, 9 January 1915, Page 7

NOXIOUS WEEDS

PROBLEM FOR THE BQARD OF AURICULTUKK -Mr. James Wilson, secretary of the Board of Agriculture, in an interestimcircular to County Councils says:— ° "The question of noxious weeds lias been referred to the Board of A"riculture. It is an extremely diilieult question to deal with, and the Board seeks your advice to assist it in its enquiry. Since the Act lias been in force experience lias shown that it is an inipossibility to enforce its provisions in all eases. The Board linds that the general opinion is that, on bush country ami grazing i am i, it ; s a v , a3to Ilot ou]j , o{ time, but also of money, to cut down weeds, more especially the California.! thistle. It has evidence, however, to show that there is a necessity for enlorcing ,;!ie Act in some districts, especially the agricultural districts. "It will thus be seen that there is one body of farmers saying that the Act is •1 no use, and that it should not only be not enforced, but repealed, and another body saying that it should be stringently enforced. The evidence before the Board, too, shows that both classes of farmers may exist in a district controlled by the local authority, and the dillieulty of the Board-Is to know what is best to lie done in such circumstances Itwould, therefore, like to have vour opinion on the following points:—' "What is the general feeling anion" the farmers in the district under you?' control as to whether it is advisable to have the Act fully enforced—(a) in the whole district: or (b) in any portion of the district? "You would greatly as,ist the Board fn coming to a conclusion as to what it should advise in the matter if you would give the fullest information oii this subject in connection with the" district under youi control, stating whether, in your opinio.], your district should be divided into two elatf.es; if so, will von giv2 us some idea oi the division you think necessary?

"The weed which is specially mentioned in the evidence before the Board TO far is the Californian thistle, but there may be other weeds in your district in connection with which the Act shruhl be stringently enforced, or othervis,:, as the case may be. T may say that the Board has been informed that the Californian thistle can be best dealt with by a very simple process in agricultural districts, namely, by shooting the eavings at threshing-time, so as to cover the whole of the thistle. In grass country, if fresh grass is cut and thrown upon it to a considerable extent, it is said that this will completely kill the thistle. Merely putting straw upon it seems to have no effect, but the eavings and the grass exclude the air, and, therefore, the thistle cannot live. Californian thistle is so general now that it may be worth the while of any fanner in your district to give this treatment a trial."

THl', MATTEi; DISCUSSED. J The letter came np at yesterday's meeting of the Clifton County Council, and Councillors expressed the opinion that the. Act should he enforced over the entire country. At the Egmont County Council yesterday,, ti, e chairman said that 'the matter did no need much discussion. The Act should he strenuously enforced. ■Cr. Mcßeynolds said he liad made a study of the question, and the greatest offender was the Public Trustee, who 'never took any precaution's to see that the provisions of the Noxious Weeds Act were enforced on lands under his control, Cr. Wright thought that the Council should take steps to have Mack-berry and gorse removed off the roadside. The Council, lie understood, liad more power than the Xoxious Weeds Inspector in this respect. He accordingly moved that the foreman he asked to send in the names of those ratepayers who had noxious weeds on their frontages. He believed in all farms being kept clean. These names should be forwarded with a strongly worded resolution to the Department. Cr Harvey sail that that process was \ory slow. The 1 kickberry was ripening fast. The engineer'should serve notice at once, and if the weeds weue not removed, the Council should clear them at the ratepayers' expense. The chairman said that blackberry, ragwort and ox-eye were making great progress in the district, and should be checked. Cr. McNeil seconded the motion, which was carried. On the motion of Crs. Campbell and McNeil, it Mas resolved to ask the Board of Agriculture to have the Act enforced in the whole district.