WEEDS AND THEIR SPREAD.

Taranaki Daily News, 28 May 1919, Page 6

WEEDS AND THEIR SPREAD.

< v To the Editor. | Si)', —In connection with the agitation regarding noxious weeds in wnieh 1 nave gamed considerable notoriety (of which I feel proud, I may say), 1 have received many requests to make public the proposals which X submitted to tile Moa Road Board and winch, unfortunately, were not issued by the press. The resolution as it appeared in the report does not embrace the original proposition though, perhaps, sufficient for the purpose of report. Now, sir, many farmers complain that through seed obtained from other parts many weeds are introduced into their paddocks; merchants arc blamed, cursed, and otherwise condemned because of this, but who ' can' rightly blame the merchant—how can he cause the trouble? The whole trouble is with the grower, and it is well known responsible seed merchants go to all sorts of trouble to give as clean a seed as possible by installing cleaning machinery, but the weeds get ahead all the same. Section sof the proposal 1 outlined for submitting to the responsible Minister is as follows, and I would like to hear what Taranaki farmers will raise as an objection: "That where grain or grass seeds are grown in the Dominion such areas as are set apart for such seeds or for chaff should first be inspected by agricultural experts as to cleanliness of the area set apart for such purpose and that no seed or chaff be permitted to be sold or otherwise disposed of without a certificate from such , experts and that a stiff penalty be imposed for infringement; further, that any person intending to set apart any area for growing and harvesting grain or grass seed of whatever description or for chaffing purposes shall first notify the Agricultural Department; of such intention." Now, sir, Ido not claim that tlie abpve is a complete remedy but I think it will be agreed that it makes an attempt to get at an .evil that is yearly becoming more acute. Why should a farmer be pestered with docks and daisies and other -unsightly weeds because of the carelessness of growers in other parts? What farmer cares to see in his paddocks just resown several kinds of weeds (one a tall bunchy yellow flowered one) the names of which are hard to obtain? Why should the farmers in a district, where Californian thistle a few years ago was practically unknown, sit still and allow their lantjs to become infested with such? Does it not follow that valuable time is expended in controlling such—time that could bi? employed in a more remunerative manner? An instance has been brought to my notice—and a prominent seed merchant will vouch for the same—in which a man wished for clean oat seed,, and all sorts of trouble was taken to secure same, yet in the paddock a straight row of thistle made its appearance. On close investigation it was found that the only way it could have been brought on the place was through the chaff fed the horses by the man whose machine was used. Is there any need to elaborate my argument? We have to check the weeds and can a better method than I be employed? If so, out with it. The time to check a trouble is when it starts. It. is easier and quicker. If you have ideas now is the ti*ie (o let the public have the opportunity of discussing them and the press is the only means.—l am, etc., JOE B, SIMPSON. Durham Road, 18tli iMay.