BAN ON SALES WANTED

Press, Volume CXI, Issue 32689, 19 August 1971, Page 26

BAN ON SALES WANTED

Blackberries now scarce A move to have the Counties Association enforce the Noxious Weeds Act by prohibiting the sale of wild blackberries, was not supported by delegates attending the anual conference of the Berryfruit Growers’ Federation, at Lincoln yesterday. “I don’t think you have anything to fear if you can offer a better fruit,” the assistant director of the horticultural division of the Department of. Agriculture (Mr J. H. Watt) told the conference. “Years ago, the West Coast used to supply large quantities to Canterbury. That has now stopped, and there is a shortage as far as processors are concerned.” Introducing the remit, Mr D. K. Lane, of the TaranakiWanganui branch, said growers were concerned about the competition to black brambles from wild blackberries. “A lot of farmers are horrified that we are now al--1 lowed the cultivation of black ! brambles,” he said. “If we ■ don’t do something about ; wild blackberries, some 1 people will let them grow so ■ that they can pick them for • sale.”