NO NASSELLA IN WOOL

Press, Volume CV, Issue 31018, 25 March 1966, Page 7

NO NASSELLA IN WOOL

Sheep Checked

At Fairs

No trace of nassella tussock was found in the fleeces of 9000 sheep examined at four recent North Canterbury ewe fairs, the fields superintendent of the Agriculture Department (Mr A. R. Dingwall) told a meeting of the North Canterbury Nassella Tussock Board yesterday. The check was made at the request of the board, and of the Nassella Co-ordinating Committee, which had asked whether nassella seed could be spread by sheep bought at the fairs. Two officers of the Field Advisory Division of the department inspected the fleeces of 9000 sheep in 120 pens at the northern and southern Amberley fairs, and at Hawarden and Culverden, he said. In 600 sheep, a close examination was made. In no instance was nassella contamination found, although some of the sheep came from properties that had. in the past, been heavily infested by nassella. “Very gratifying,” board members commented.

The board inspected an Omihi farm of about 1000 acres, where the owner had expressed concern at the accounts he had received for nassella control. The chairman (Mr T. G. Maxwell) complimented him on the way the property had been developed for increased production.

Visit By Sailing Ship.—The Chilean sailing ship, Esmeralda, will make a return visit to Auckland on August 17, on her way from Sydney to Valparaiso. She will be in port until August 22. On board will be 42 Chilean marine graduates, two guest marines from Uruguay and Nicaragua. 17 officers and 58 boys. When the Esmeralda was in Auckland in June, 1961, more than 40,000 sightseers went to Princes wharf to see her.— (P.A.)