Nodding Thistle Control Given "First Priority’

Press, Volume CIII, Issue 30531, 28 August 1964, Page 17

Nodding Thistle Control Given "First Priority’

Nodding thistle was the weed given first priority on agricultural land, the annual meeting of the group committees administering 'the control of noxious weeds in the area between the Waimakariri and Rakaia rivers and on Banks Peninsula was told this week. Details of weed control progress in his area were given by the field supervisor of the Halswell, Paparua and Springs group (Mr F. E. Hoskin.) Other inspectors gave brief verbal reports to the meeting. Mr Hoskin said land-owners continued to give good control of nodding thistle in all districts, but there were isolated cases where farmers were inclined to slip a little towards the end of the growing season. Several small infestations had been located on new properties, but, Mr Hoskin said, he thought the battle was still being won. About 150 known infestations were in the area. They included 87 at Malvern, 36 at Paparua, 22 at Springs, and five at Halswell. Mr Hoskin said there was very good control of nassella tussock in all areas.

During the last three months work had been concentrated on the control of nassella tussock, gorse, broom, and nodding thistle, Mr Hoskin said. Brief reports were also given by representatives of the Ellesmere-Selwyn, Mal-vern-Tawera and Peninsula groups. Gorse and broom were said to be the worst problems in the Peninsula district. Con-

trol work was continuing. The Malvern-Tawera area report concerned nassella and nodding . thistle infestations, which were being located and dealt with. Mr Hoskin said he was sure nodding thistle could be eliminated by constant control. Two-chaih boundary clearances, the policy in some areas, were not sufficient, he said. What happened, he asked, when infestations were in a cereal crop used for seed? As long as such seed was used the problem would remain. Mr Hoskin said most farmers realised the damage nod-

ding thistle could do, and they were doing “. . . a wonderful job.” Mr Hoskin said he felt stock companies should be warned about the manner in which offal seed was given away and not destroyed, as it should be. Mr J. Scott said the Ministry of Works had spread such offal seed thickly on the road tunnel embankments, and that could lead to trouble in the future. It was decided to approach the grain merchants Association on the questions. ■lt was also decided not to meet again for two years.