More Nassella Tussock

Press, Volume CVII, Issue 31412, 4 July 1967, Page 1

More Nassella Tussock

(N.Z. Press Association)

DUNEDIN, July 3.

A* further infestation of Nassella tussock has been found in Central Otago, this time in the Cardrona valley about five miles from Wanaka. This makes three fresh outbreaks found in the last year.

A Wanaka Rabbit Board employee found signs of nassella tussock growing on the roadlines of State highway 89, which runs from Wanaka to Queenstown over the Crown range. The tussock was found at Timber creek .in two patches on either side of the road.

Last August an outbreak of nassella tussock was found at

Galloway and earlier this year another infestation in the Vincent county was located at Matakanui. Nassella tussock has been present in the Roxburgh area of the Tuapeka county for some years but was not known to exist in other parts of Otago or Southland. The Cardrona outbreak was described by the Lakes County inspector (Mr P. G. Sharpe) as being “heavy” in a quarter to a half-acre section and light in another area of two to three acres.

It is not known how the original seeds were brought to the area, but it could have been by truck, cars, or picnic parties. Mr Sharpe considered the plants were between two and three years old. They had seeded and there was a colony of young plants in the vicinity. The full extent of the in-

festation was unknown and there could be other areas of nassella in the surrounding district. Mr Sharpe said a field day to grub the invested area had been arranged.