NOXIOUS WEEDS.

Auckland Star, Volume XXXII, Issue 47, 25 February 1901, Page 5

NOXIOUS WEEDS.

RAGWEED OR RAGWORT.

METHODS OF EXTIRPATION

(From Our Wellington Correspondent.)

WELLINGTON, this day.

Ragweed, .or ragwort (Senecio Jacobsons), being very much talked about in the press and at meeting's of farmers and pnstoralists, I called to-day on Professor Kirk (Government Biologist In the Agricultural Department) and requested information on the subject for the benefit of your readers. 1 found Mr Kirk at. his laboratory, and, without any delay he at once, and in his usual courteous manner, made the following statement:—Ragweed, or ragwort, is very much like a giant groundsel, having a big head, and bearing enormous yellow flowers. It grows from one to four feet in height, and in some portions of Southland it covers many miles of country. It is a remarkably free seeder, and has spread rapidly throughout other districts in both Islands. At one time local residents believed that it caused a complaint in horses commonly known as Winton disease. At the time Mr Gilruth (Chief Government Veterinary Officer) was investigating the disease, and Mr Kirk made a careful examination of the pasture lands on farms where the ravages of the disease were at their worst, but he discovered no plant which could account for the alleged disease. He obtained considerable quantities of ragweed, which ■were analysed for him by the late Mr Skey (Colonial Analyst) and Mr George Grey, F.C.S., the well-known agricultural chemist of Lincoln College, but no results were obtained that could1 be considered injurious to animal life. The plant, however, is a dangerous weed, and should be cut and cleared whenever its presence is first discovered on any property, otherwise it will spread with great rapidity, and cover large portions of most valuable paddocks and runs. The following quotation from No. 41 of the very useful "Leaflets for Farmers" will doubtless be welcome to many of your readers:—"ls there any means of keeping it under control?" This question was asked me when addressing 9. meeting of settlers' at Winipn. The reply was: "The plant is a remarkably free seeder, but it must be remembered that if simultaneous action is taken and the weeds cut before flowering, the production of seed will be confined to the later maturing plants, and if these are again cut, this action will in two years materially reduce, and indeed practically exterminate the pest. Is it not possible for the settlers of this district to combine and make an organised attack on a common enemy? Consider the matter on an £.s.d. basis. The earning power of the best land around 'Winton is now reduced by from 25 to 75 per cent, by the presence of this plant. Deduct the estimated cost of clearing from the estimated loss, and see what margin is left. If this is done and a combination arranged of all farmers within a given radius. I think you will find that the Government lands complained of- will not afford any difficulty. The Minister, I know, is anxious about this weed question, and you will not find him unreasonable."

Ragweed is included in th<i second schedule of the Noxious Weeds Act passed in the* last session of Parliament. If any local body desires to have the weed effectively dealt with, it need only pass a special resolution to that Effect, and notify the Minister for Afrrirulture, upon which- the Department will deal with the weed in the same manner as with the

three other plants mentioned in the first schedule to the Act. This, means that ragweed is not deemed a noxious weed except in those districts where the local bodies pass a special resolution declaring it so.

Whilst speaking- of noxious weeds it may be well to point out that under the new Act the blackberry, California^ thistle, and the sweet briar are the only weeds dealt with by the Department, except in those districts where the local bodies proclaim any of the plants at present included in the second schedule, then the matter comes under the jurisdiction of the Agricultural Department, and in dealt with by its inspector.