A YELLOW SCOURGE.

Auckland Star, Volume LXII, Issue 87, 14 April 1931, Page 6

A YELLOW SCOURGE.

Strolling round the north side of your lovely Mount Eden, I was astounded to see scores of flourishing ragwort plants, also eOnie gnaphalium and foxglove. Now Mount Eden is, undoubtedly, one of the chief glories of Auckland. What are those in authority doing to allow these awful weeds to spread? Because of their number these weeds must have been there some time to have spread so much. If they get another couple or even one more year's free grace, they will not only smother the mountain but will spread by their thousands over Auckland gardens and roads. As they exist now, it would be almost futile to attempt to grub them, besides being a most expensive way. The only hope would be to spray them liberally right now, watch them carefully, and respray where necessary in the spring. One man who works and does not "go slow" could very easily accomplish this in, say, a week, for I do not know how far the curse has spread, but something should be done right away to be effective. Will this appeal, like scores of others, be unnoticed? I fear so, for Mount Eden streets seem notorious for weeds which are never grubbed till after they have spread their seeds around by the million. Finally, of all weeds, ragwort is one of the most fertile. HAYSEED.