A WEED SANCTUARY

Press, Volume LXXII, Issue 21977, 29 December 1936, Page 11

A WEED SANCTUARY

TO THE EDITOB 0» THB PRBBB Sir _i have noticed a vacant section on Withell's road, part of the Avonhead soldiers' settlement. Nearby are some well-kept farmlets, and the owners of these are rather concerned about it, saying that the weeds on this section should be cut and burned immediately to prevent the seeds from spreading. Having.visited the place, or, to be honest, having attempted to visit it, I came away with the conviction that this would be an act of vandalism. Here we have a wonderful collection of our most important weeds. The few that happen to be absent could be obtained at once and introduced into the association, to form a model weed-demon-stration reserve. Here and there may be found a useful plant, but these could easily be stamped out. Tracks could be cut through the luxuriant growth to enable those interested to penetrate it. Students from our agricultural colleges and institutions, and all those interested in weed development, would find full scope for their enthusiasm in this weed-lovers' paradise. The proposal of the authorities tc run a road right through it to Avonhead road would be very helpful, but their other proposal of cutting the section into building blocks would be most disastrous. No doubt it would give a few individuals a lively interest in weed culture, but the opportunity would be lost for ever o.f establishing a completely representative weed sanctuary, which would be a credit alike to the Land Board, the Department of Agriculture, and the Waimairi County Council.—Yours, etc., T.A.S. December 26, 1938.