A REMEDY FOR DODDER.

Auckland Star, Volume XXIX, Issue 136, 10 June 1898, Page 3

A REMEDY FOR DODDER.

This parasitic plant has unfortunately obtained a footing in New Zea--1 nd and as it is likely that the grow- • a of clover seed for exportation will become a considerable fuming inlustry here> *s important to know t i, e best means of combating the loread of dodder. The following is (he method adopted in America, where Ljdder jj ag established itself in a field I Lucerne, or Alfalfa, as it is called in the States:— (1) Frequently repeated close cxitt'nJ Of the infested areas, carefully removing all the cuttings and particularly au * fragments of the yellow tbread-Hke steins that may remain on the ground. Weeding or taking up the sods on the infested spots and burning them, first allowing them to <j r y sufficiently for the purpose, on tlife spot, with the aid of some straw or trash if necessary. The ground should ba disturbed as little as possible, so ♦hat the ripe seed of the parasite may not be buried, but rather killed by the burning. (2) Watering the infested plants after cutting with a solution of copperas from five to ten per cent, strong (sa y n pound to fifteen or twenty gallons), in sunny weather, when in "the course of three days the parasite and its seed will be ed(3) Continuous close pasturing with sheep is also sometimes practised, and will serve to repress—but rarely to entirely extirpate—the pest. it is liable to damage the stand and weaken the alfalfa.