TWENTY ACRES OF CALTFORNIAN THISTLES.

Press, Volume XLVIII, Issue 7869, 21 May 1891, Page 2

TWENTY ACRES OF CALTFORNIAN THISTLES.

Weekly Press.

We have been applied to for advice as to the best method of dealing with the Califoruian thistle which has been allowed to take possession of twenty acres of rich alluvial soil in the Kaiapoi district-. Our advice is to subject the land to a bare fallow next summer, not allowing the thistle to show a leaf above the surface. This will necessitate Incessant attention, and, of course, a corresponding amount of expense, but it will not all be lost labour, as the land will In the future return such crops as will largely recompense the extra labour. Assuming that the first year's bare fallow has been attended to, the infested land may in the following two years be cropped with potatoes, turnips, mangels, or carrots ia drills, taking care that not a thistle is allowed to grow. This can only be done by the constant applicaof the drill grub and hand hoe. The extra crops induced by the extra workinac of the soil will more than pay for the extra trouble. We would, however, im press upon our correspondent the absolute necessity of coustanfc watchfulness, particularly ia this necessary as the autumn »diaaces, and tba ground becomes covered with the growing crop; a thorough examination should take place just before tho crops cover tho soil. If these instructions are not attended to the land will in a few years be so reduced in value as not to be worth holding. We drew attention recently to the fact that clover crops infested wich this weed were being cut and threshed. On farther enquiry we have ascertained that this is actually the fact. We would again caution farmers purchasing clover seeds to keep a sharp look-out for the seeds of this pest. Let all clover seeds be thoroughly cleaned before sowing. We cannot too strongly urge upon our farming friends the necessity for keeping their lands free from weeds. It would be a curious, but not a very encouraging enquiry, if it could be arrived at by the actual losses caused to the Canterbury farmers by the growth of weeds.