TWO GRAVE PROBLEMS.

Auckland Star, Volume LX, Issue 37, 13 February 1929, Page 19

TWO GRAVE PROBLEMS.

STERILITY AND RAGWORT. WAIKATO SETTLERS ALA3MED PREVENTIVE MEASURES. NEEDED. (By Telegraph—Special to Star.) TE AWAMUTU, Tuesday, it is somewhat surprising, not to say disconcerting, to lind that the farmers in the Waikato and Northern King Country in the middle of a season which has been characterised by a luxuriant growth of pastures, with a, consequent increase in tho productivity of the farms, are faced with two problems which give occasion for grave concern. Tne most immediate and vital of these relate to what is akin to a wave of sterility being experienced in a large number of dairying herds in the districts mentioned, wliiie tho second, though none the less important, is the unprecedented spread and growth of ragwort. These, factors, taken ill conjunction with the warning of no le.-s an English authority than Sir Thomas Clement on the necessity for maintaining and improving the quality of dairy produce, are viewed with considerable misgivings by those intimately connected with the industry.

Difficulty With the Herds. It is safe to say that this year considerably more than the usuul amount of trouble is being experienced with the herds, and, if present indications can be accepted as a reliable guide, many farmers next season will get their cows into profit at a very late date, or not at all. The trouble appears in more or less aggravated form throughout the district, and so serious has it become that the Agricultural Department has taken active steps to investigate it with a view to finding a remedy. The problem of abortion presents many difficulties. and the Department has been going into the position fully. It is recognised that methods of spreading the disease exist beyond contaminated pastures —possibly by means of milkers , hands and by means, of the bull. Those investigations seem to indicate that vaccination has proved a failure, though a second test over a large number of heifers, is now in progress.

The line of action adopted by the Department lies in three directions, viz: (a) From the dietetic point of view, where a deficiency may exist; (b) from

tho physiological point of view, considering the relationship of milk production to sterility; and (c) from the germ invasion of the uterus viewpoint. Analysis of the pastures on selected farms is also being undertaken to see whether that will thrown light on the trouble. The position at present is complicated, and to the dairy farmer niters a very serious menace to tbj maintenance of his herds, but it is loped that some definite result will be the outcome of th» Department's investigations, whereas the epidemic of sterility will be combated, if not entirely overcome.

Spread of Ragwort. With the ragwort in full bloom, it is not difficult for the most unobservant traveller through the farming districts to comprehend the grave menace which the weed offers. In the Northern King Country the ravages of "the golden 1 lt'om" are most pronounced, many paddocks being completely over-run by it, while it has encroached on the Wai'kato to a most alarming degree. Localities which were entirely clear of the weed a few years ago are now infested with it, and it is spreading quickly. It is conceded on all sides that unless determined and united steps are taken to eradicate the weed, a severe blow will be struck at the great industry of dairying, and that many farmers, who now have but a few plants on their farms, may. in a few years, be forced to abandon them.

Unfortunately, many a farmer disregards the seriousness of the menace when the weeds first appear on his property and fails to take adequate measures to deal with the pest in its infancy. It i.s the general opinion, in the farming community that such settlers should be brought up with a '•round I turn." By their inactivity they not only expose their own properties to the ravages of the pest, but allow it to become a standing menace to all the farms in the locality, since the seed is , easily wind-blown or carried by birds in all directions. It is felt that in this respect the Department's inspectors should stringently enforca the regulations to compel holders to keep their farms clear—there is nothing like coping with the menace in its incipient stages. Maintaining tho present farms clean, however, is one aspect only of a big problem requiring immediate attention. Abandoned farms there are which are completely given over to the pest, which also flourishes luxuriantly on unoccupied Crown and native lands. The latter, indeed, are the crux of tliL , whole problem. How is it to be dealt with? One suggestion is that the Government should offer a prize of such magnitude as to make it worth while for scientists the world over to consider and investigate with a view to devising some means of eradicating the pest. So seriously is the menace regarded that it is felt that no cost would be too great for a certain and lasting euro. In the meantime, however, there is a suggestion that local boards should be incorporated after the manner of the existing rabbit boards for dealing with the pest, these bodies to have statutory power to levy contributions from both the Crown and natives in respect to the unoccupied land?. This suggestion will, it is understood, be submitted to the Minister of Lands on the occasion of his visit to the Waikato a few weeks hence. Mr. Lee Martin, M.P. for Raglan, who is a practical farmer, stftterl the other day that he was satisfied there were hundreds of farmers

menaced, and quite a large number who would be forced off their farms if decisive action were not taken. In the interests of farmers who were trying to farm; their lands up to the fullest capacity, he thought inspectors should be impressed with th? gravity of the situation, and extra inspectors should be provided if the existing ones were too busy to deal with the matter properly. It was so serious, he added, that no delay whatever should be tolerated. Urgent representations have been made to the Government, and these will be further pressed when the Hon. Ci. W. Forbes again visits the district, but in the meantime there can be no minimising the gravity of the situation, as ragwort is spreading in all directions, bringing death to dairy cattle, and, in the end, to the sheep used to

keep it down, reducing the productivity of the land, and threatening, it is feared, in many quarter*, to have an actual deleterious effect mi the quality of the dairy produce itself. Experiments With A Moth. The Director-Genera! of Agriculture to-day advised -Mr. W. J. Broadfoot, M.l\. of the progress lieing made at the Cawthron Institute with a moth which lias been introduced in the hope that it will control or eradicate ragwort. Dr. Keakes states: "Supplies of this moth, Tyria Jabobeaou, were imported some time ago, and tests were carried out at the institute, with n view to ascertaining whether the insect would attack plants of economic value. These tests showed negative results, but at about the time it was proposed to commence liberation, a report was received from abroad that potatoes had been attacked by the tyria. The institute, therefore commenced further tests, which have now been practically completed, starvation tests on potatoes proving negative. Steps are now being taken to arrange for the distribution of the insects, should the final results indicate .that liberation may be undertaken without risk. The final results should lie known in the course of the next few da vs.' .