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Waikato Times, Volume XXXVII, Issue 3036, 31 December 1891, Page 2

There is, wo belinvo, no wewl more difficult, to fiomplotcly orarlicato— oneo it obtains a hold—than tho swoot briar. Yot this wrotchod plant is boing permitted to iako gradual possession of largo areas of our best lands, along river bottoms and other rich spots, tho briar is almost invariably in evidence. As one instance of the time, not to say expense, involved in any attempt to get rid of tlium, there is near Paorou a field of forty acros which had been well cultivated by a number of Maori residents for a very loug period. About twelve years ago it fell into European Lauds, and for ten years it was kept under the plough, being turned over and worked every year during that timo. But the briars were not evtiii thou got rid of, and since it has been laid down to grass for tho last two years, they are coming up again quite thick. There is also an old orchard in tho same district, which has been well cultivated for nearly fifty years—until three or four years ago —und the briars have now come up so thick that mon have had to be put on to grub them up, and this will be only a temporary relief. Settlers should make it a rule, to removo every briar annually by grubbing; and if sheep are kept on the land, tho young stalks will eaten ofi. By this moans tho briar will at least bo kept iu check.