SPREAD OF RAGWORT.

Auckland Star, Volume LXV, Issue 10, 12 January 1934, Page 3

SPREAD OF RAGWORT.

CONCERN IN THE NORTH. NOT ALWAYS RECOGNISED. (By Telegraph.—Own Correspondent.) WHANGAREI, this day. The opinion that lack of recognition was one of the chief causes of the spread of ragwort was expressed at a meeting of the sub-provincial executive of the Farmers' Union yesterday. Mr. A. E. Robinson, commenting on the spread of the weed, said that ragwort was existent in the Bay of Islands "by the acre." One manj who had sown grass seed on bush burns, found ragwort plant coming up in every clearing. The- pest wae far more common than was generally thought. The president, Mr. A. Briscoe Moore, said that ragwort was not easy to identify. Branches could obtain mounted specimens from the Auckland Museum. Lack of knowledge of the plant's features was one of the chief causes of the spread of the plant. On Mr. Moore's motion it was decided to draw the attention of branches and school committees that mounted specimens could be obtained, and also that the Agricultural Department's bulletin containing the latest information in ;cgard to the plant and its eradication was also available. APPEAL TO GOVERNMENT. COUNTY COUNCIL SCHEME. (From Our Own Correspondent.) ;. HAMILTON, this day. It was decided at a meeting of the Kaglan County Council to ask the Minister of Internal Affairs to introduce legislation to enable boards to be set up to deal in a comprehensive manner with the eradication of ragwort. The chairman of the board, Mr. H. W. Wilson, expressed the opinion that the •season for the eradication of the weed had been wasted through the delay which occurred in securing supplies of sodium chlorate. He said he was firmly convinced that spraying after the weed had flowered was practically useless, and was a waste of money. Spraying early in the season, however, brought excellent results. « Mr. H. Johnstone said the only effective way to treat ragwort late in the season was to cut off the tops of the weed, put them in a bag, and spray the sodium on the roots. Mr. J. E. Richardson suggested that the council should raise a loan over the I whole of the county and endeavour to obtain a Government subsidy. A board could then be formed similar to a rabbit board to administer the fund and see that the work was carried out properly. He thought the Government should agree to a subsidy, as native and Crown lands were among those most affected in the county.