DANGER OF TUSSOCK BURNING

Ashburton Guardian, Volume 66, Issue 248, 1 August 1946, Page 2

DANGER OF TUSSOCK BURNING

CATCHMENT BOARD WARNS RUNHOLDERS To burn sunny faces in north-west weather late in the season is courting serious problems of erosion, states the chairman of the South Canterbury Catchment Board (Dr. P. JR. Woodhouse) in a letter to all innholders in the district. Although abundant evidence of serious damage from tires is available, the Board does not intend to frame by-laws for the control of burning until further information lias been obtained from runholders, tiie letter continues. In the meantime the Board urges runholders to burn tussock as little as possible. On browntop country present indications are that little harm will result if fires can he controlled but, on the other hand, burning snow grass on high altitudes may be disastrous. In regal'd to the true tussock areas, the opinion of most runholders is that if burning is done at all it should be done when the soil is moist and in the afternoon when there is a probability of a heavy dew. When burning is permitted emphasis has been laid on the benefit of spelling country other than brown-top country after it lias been burnt. The Board is aware of the danger on unburned tussock country by accidental fires lit by hampers or others, and has prepared warning notices copies of which will he sent to runholders on application.