THE CALIFORNIAN THISTLE.

Press, Volume XLV, Issue 6955, 7 January 1888, Page 6

THE CALIFORNIAN THISTLE.

The Committee of the Canterbury Agricultural- and. Pastoral Association met yesterday afternoon and received the following report from the Secretary anent the Califormau thistle:—

• "'ln accordance with-instructions from the Committee, -1 inserted- an advertisement in the papers asking for information, and offering to forward samples of the plant to" anyone not familiar wich it» appearance. The result has been that I have received numerous applications for specimens, and the ofiico nas also been visited by large numbers of persons interested.in the matter. The result has been that several persons have-had the plant growing on their land and were ignorant of its nature. For several' years past some' have adopted vigorous measures for*the prevention oil the spread of the others less interested do not seem disposed to trouble their heads much about the matter. As a proof of the prevalence of this noxious weed, I may mention that it is how grow;ing in the following places (and doubtless hi many others:— lemuka, ■ .Lotigbeach, Kicearton, Merivale Lane, Ashourton, Springstoii, Spreydon, Dunsandel, the Kadclule instate, near Cheney's corner, the Harewood road (5 acres), on at least' three farms on Kaiapoi Inland, and at Governor's Bay. Those who have attempted to eradicate this pest have found that the ordinary method of destroying thistles by plougning, grubbing and harrowing rather tends co the spread of the weed than to its extermination. .Referring to the inspector of Thistles (Californiauj report for Tasmania, I find that several fanners have, after three years' persistent hoeing, succeeded in eradicating the plant. This method seems to have been more successful than that of covering over with litter, although the latter answers very well if properly attended to. 1 would draw your attention to Mr McKenzie's proposed 'Thistle Act , on the table before you, providing that farmers shall be compelled to prevent the thistle from blooming. Such a measure may prevent the spread of the plant by seed, but it will in no way-prevent its spread in lands already infested. I would submit that the Act does not go far enough? I should insist on the entire extermination of the plant wherever and in whosever land it may be found growing. This thought is - not original, i Keferring to the Tasmanian report ' already referred to, you -will find that the Inspector recommends that in those districts where the "thistle has not yet taken complete possession of the soil" its entire eradication should be insistedupon, allowing a reasonable time for doing: bO, say two or even three years. The thistle, although widely distributed, has not yet got beyond. us, and in the interest of landowners now is the time to deal vigorously with the pest in the manner suggested. As directed by the Committee, I have submitted the result of my enquiries on this question to the Government. The thistle, if neglected, will be to the Canterbury farmers what the rabbit pest has been to tbe Otago sheep farmer. A sub-Committee was appointed to consider it, and to suggest means for preventing the spread of gorse, which is said to be overrunning large tracts of land.