A NO. 1 PEST

Press, Volume XCVI, Issue 28436, 16 November 1957, Page 9

A NO. 1 PEST

Nodding Thistle Ender Fire

IFJML4TE FARMERS’ SUGGESTIONS

Some of the problems concerned with the control of Nodding Thistle were outlined when a deputation from the Waimate branch of Federated Farmers attended a meeting of the Waimate County Council to inquire about enforcement of the regulation under which nodding thistle had bsen added recently to the council's schedule of noxious weeds. The deputation was.given an assurance that the council expected a “reasonable degree” of control. “That is the council’s attitude in all weed control questions,” said the chairman (Major N. A. Rattray). Nodding thistle was one of the most difficult weeds to deal with, said Mr F. J. Henshaw (a member of the deputation). It was necessary to attack the thistle in the rosette stage, which was of very short duration. The speaker was supported bj ? the council's noxious weeds inspector (Mr A. A. McKenzie), who pointed out that the weed matured at different times. Degree of Control Mr A. C. Begg said the main concern of farmers was the question of the degree of control expected by the council. Insis-r fence on total eradication, perhaps in a limited time, would place farmers in a very difficult position. If it was merely a question of control, the farmer on the better class land could adopt methods similar to those used against the Californian thistle. A considerable problem was . presented by second and third class land and by hill country where the weed probably was most prevalent. Methods of control thus far suggested had proved difficult, expensive, and unreliable, Mr Begg said. Aerial spraying had been shown to be of little value and of considerable expense. From an economic viewpoint, spreading superphosphate with the hormone “killer” was the only way possible, but it had been found that the light powders separated too soon from the superphosphate and were carried by the wind as far as 10 miles from the point of sowing, to the danger of other growth. Spread from Hill Country It was generally accepted that the spread of the thistle was from the west, in the Hakataramea district’ Unless effective control could be exercised in the hill country, the result of the declara-, tion would be to raise farm expenditure without increasing farm income, Mr Begg declared. The seed of the thistle was windborne, and was accordingly spread over a wide area, said Mr Henshaw. “Trials I have made with 24D super did not work out,” he said. The method had proved effective in lucerne on the flat, but treatment of the hill country from the air was an entirely different matter. Mr Henshaw supported Mr Begg's statement that farmers required to “know a good deal more” about control. “Can the council give us any advice?” he asked. The council had no considerable knowledge of the methods of control that might be adopted, said Major Rattray. The council’s attitude was at all times reasonable in such matters. All that could be expected was that control would be exercised where reasonably possible. “The fact that Federated Farmers planned this deputation points to a real desire on the part rtf farmers to do their best to eradicate this weed,” Major Rattray concluded. “Nothing but good can result from this meeting.”