ST. JOHN'S WORT.

Press, Volume LXII, Issue 18722, 19 June 1926, Page 5

ST. JOHN'S WORT.

PRETTY FLOWER PEST.

(raOJI OTTB OWH COBSESrOHDEKT.) SYDNEY, June 10. Of the three weeds which have been declared noxious all over the State, the one that is now attracting most attention is fit. John's Wort. . It is claimed to have eaten up already £1,000,000 in land.- How. effectively to grapple with the pest is now being discussed* but the question of this and other noxious weeds has been discussed for so many year's that any definite policy in respect to St. John's Wort will come as something as a. shock,. The view of the shire councils arid tho Departmental view as to the most effective line of attack _ differ, and the weed, of course, flourishes. Like Dead Sea fruit, St. John's- Wort iB nice to look at, but it is'nasty in all other respects. Like the water hyacinth, it was. brought into Australia as a • pretty flower. It was known in Europe as the Witch's Herb, and was supposed to be capable of acting as a charm against witchcraft. In Victoria it has already eaten up 150,000 acres. It is feared that if it is not checked before very long it will oat up £10,000,000 in land in New South Wales. The Crown's chief asset—its unsold-land—-is vitally affected.