NOXIOUS WEEDS.

Taranaki Daily News, 29 April 1919, Page 7

NOXIOUS WEEDS.

IHEEE SPREAD IN MO'A DISTRICT.. At last meeting' \, of the IToa Road Board, Cr. J. B. 'Simpson gave notice of motion, desiring that something should be done to cope with the growth of noxious weeds. In moving at yesterday's meeting the notices standing in his name, Cr. Simpson stated that the matter waa one of considerable importance to the district. The fyprcad of weeds was acute, and the methods adopted of keeping them in check were an absolute farce. He had received expressions of opinions from Ultimate farmers asking that it be attended to by the board. He had been told that if his motion was carried it might have the effect of chasing many farmers off the land, but he «vas convinced that if nothing was done it would mean that thousands of fanners would leave the land. He honestly be-' lieved that part of the trouble lay in men having more land than they could look after. On Norfolk Road absentees were holding land that contained bushes of blackberries as big as the room they were in. He was surprised that when the Industries Committee bad visited Taranaki nothing had been done in drawing attention to the blackberry. At Eltham the farmers were becoming concerned at the grip the iberry was getting on the new land. If farmers had to spend time going round chasing the black curse then the production must suffer. Drastic action was necessary, and he thought if the board could get the regulations amended so that local bodies were empowered to assist in the 'matter some good might result. The powers that be in Wellington' should be made alive to the fact that Inglowood land was goi"g to the dogs- Besides the I blackberry there was the question of dirty seeds. He instanced the case of a farmer who had gone to considerable trouble to clear a paddock for oats and then found the Californian thistle gaining a hold. Investigation showed that this was brought about by the horses being fed on chaff. Ox-eye daisy and ragwort also required to be brought into line for extermination. It was only by these means that they could secure increased production which was so essential.

In seconding, Mr Lyons' tboug-lit that birds were greatly responsible for the spread, although he admitted the thistle might be blown for milesL Cr. Simpson's motions were very drastic, but they had to admit that the weeds were gaining in the district and something must be done to check the growth.

Tn reply to Mr. Mr. Simpson stated that the reason for the Government delay was that they could not get the men, bnt if tie board had the power the latter would soon have a team of men to go over the land. Something must he done. Four years back Borne farmers were clear of ragwort, but now it was everywhere. Mr. Todd: The regulations insist on a man cleaning weeks book a quarter of a chain clear of the fence every year. Mr. Stewart was hardly in favor of Mr. Simpson's motion, but admitted they had sections in the district that had" very little cultivation and the grass was entirely gone. There was any amount of land now useless, hut the inspector could assist the settlers by visiting some of the farms. The great bulk of the land between Inglewood and the mountain required cleaning up. Unfortunately *it often meant that the man was on the poorest land, and the section wouldn't pay for the cleaning up- If the land could be properly cleared, stumped, and drained, some of it would be <vorth £4O. The chairman said agreed with a good deal of what nT. Simpson had said. At the same time they must not forget that Inglewood was not the only place suffering from weeds. He had no desire to be hard on the settlers. Whilst on a visit to the Taieri he had seen Calftornian thistle growing in the middle of the road. As far as the board's territory waa concerned he did not think the position was as bad as some believed. Land was steadily improving in value and production was increasing, but with continued clearing and working the ground ut could be made much more productive. Regarding- the quality of seed, it was generally admitted that during the past two or three years all the merchants handled seed that was not up to pre-war quality; it was second grade. A voice: Like the whisky!

Mr. Bowler endorsed the chairman's remarks regarding the South Island. Down there he had seen growths of Californian thistle so matted that sheep could not pass through, and had to eat on "ach side of the growth. Mr. Todd said he could not support the motion. It might penalise same who were making every effort to clear their ground. He thought they might cheek the herry if they used the cultivator for three years, and whilst the weed was in flower.

Mr. Hair aaid sheep would assist to clea? the 'berry. He had a section which the sheep did well on. In his opinion the biddy-bid was the worst weed of the lotIn replying, Mr. Simpson said his experience of ploughing did not indicate that the weed would bo cleared in three years- After the seventh ploughing it was still there. He had no wish to bring the district out as a weed-infected one, and was not concerned with what occurred in other districts. The regulations, apparently, were not drastic enough, and at Eltham it was considered necessary to get the Farmers' Union to take up question and submit a remit to the conference. It had been suggested that the province should be divided into areas, but this was no good, o.h one area might be cleared up and the neighboring one allowed to run wild, and the clean farm would thus be penalised. He had no desire to be hard on anyone, and if any member of the board could ausrgMt anv better motion he was prepared to hear it. Mr Todd, in explanation, stated that by ploughing he meant that each successive year they should go a foot deeper, and after thu ploughing the ground should be harrowd properly. Mr. Pimpßon's rrntion. as follows, was put and lost: "That the attention of the Hor. Minister for Internal Affairs be drawn to the immediate necessity of introducing legislation dealing with the spread of noxious weeds, particularly ox-vye daisV, ragwort, and blackberry, and would respectfully suggest that the local bodies be srantcd authority to assist on lands over which their jurisdiction lies •'' Mr Lyons then briefly moved: "That it be a recommendation to the authorities controlling soldier settlement to consider the feasibility of acmiirins Mac*berrv infected land and stumping and ploughing the same for dairying purposes and closeT Bettlement."—Seconded by Cr. Simpson and carried. Woods' Great Peppermint Cure, ' For Coushs Colds, never fails.