NASSELLA NEAR CHRISTCHURCH

Press, Volume LXXXII, Issue 24768, 8 January 1946, Page 4

NASSELLA NEAR CHRISTCHURCH

PLANTS AT LEAST TWO YEARS OLD

NEED FOR IDENTIFICATION EMPHASISED

Nassella .tussock has established itself within four miles of the Christchurch City boundary. This discovery was made during the week-end by Mr L. W. McCaskill, lecturer in rural education at Lincoln College. A clump of eight tussocks at the flowering and seeding stage was found near Harewood on a part of the old Waimakariri river-bed used for grazing sheep and cattle.

The tussocks are at least two years old, possibly three. That they flowered and produced fertile seed last year is shown by the dozens of seedlings growing on an area of more than 50 square yards surrounding the parent plants. Some of these seedlings were found across the farm boundary on land owned by the Waimakariri River Trust.

“This discovery should draw attention to the vital necessity for every farmer in Mid-Cante’rbury and North Canterbury 'to makte himself familiar with the yientification of this tussock at all stages, to keep ,a constant lookout for its occurrence'on his property, and to eradicate any plants found,” said Mr McCaskill in an interview yesterday.

“In this case a highly intelligent and observant farmer was for two years unaware, of the presence of this pest on his farm because he had no previous experience of the plant. Inspection of other farms by someone familiar with nassella would possibly show it to be present elsewhere in Mid Canterbury.” The site of this new infestation has been cleared of all mature tussocks, and the owner of the land is making provision for the destruction of, seedlings as they appear. •