THE BATHURST BURR.

Wairarapa Daily Times, Volume XV, Issue 4351, 22 February 1893, Page 3

THE BATHURST BURR.

The second of the st-rii"s of leafletx for farmers now boiii!- issued by tbe N.Z. Agricultural Department, bus just reuuhnd us. It tronlH ml the Bat burst luitr (JCant/iiiim aphioimm} whicli ts d'-acribfid as folioivi : A Hlinibby annua! IVom Sin to 3ft high ; the stum and imiler side of the leaves aie whitish ; each joint of Hie stem is stadded with sharp sninen arranged in f!tou|ißof tlirtip, The leaves are latice-shap"d, three out, tluicontriil lobo being very niuuh longer than tlic others. Tho flowers are in clurterii in the axils of tho loaves. The suoil ia encaaed in a very hard oval burr, whicli Is thickly studded with liouli-ii prickles, Uoilt'Vfld to ho a native of Chill, but. now found in most warm climates. At cert.aiu ill growth the plant is said to b» poisonous tuatuuk but thin is of lilllo cotiseijiieno us it Is ral'ely eatuti by tlitini, Qreat loss and atinoymiiM am howovor caused to tho farmer by the burrs bcootning ontangled in tlio wool of bis slioop, It is stated on good authority j that in some patts of Australia, whore tho burrs are thick, the wool is depreciated 3d or raoro ptir lb. Tho destructive nature of this weed ia at present little rucoguised in New Zealand, but tha pest is unfortunately spreading and it is theroforo of the greatest importance that every plant observed should be destroyed. When the burr has Woilia established it is best attacked while in flower, as if interfered with when in seed, more harm than good will result.

The necessity for keeping a sharp look out for such plants as the burr, and, when noticed, their immediate eradication, cannot be too strongly impressed upon settlors.