To study tussock weed problem

Press, 22 February 1980, Page 15

To study tussock weed problem

The recent announcement of the Lincoln College Foundation that, with the Ministry of Works and Development, it was bringing an American rangeland research scientist, Mr A. Perry Plummer, to New Zealand to advise on methods of control of the weed, hieracium, which is causing so much concern in the dry tussock grasslands of the South Island, has pleased that great old man of New Zealand agriculture Mr L. W. (Lance) McCaskill who retired almost 15 years ago from the post of foundation director of the Tussock Grasslands and Mountain Lands Institute. Mr McCaskill travelled with Mr Plummer during visits to the United States in 1955 and 1961. He describes him as an outstanding rangeland man and revegetator. Mr McCa-skill says that he will bring a new point of view and a fresh mind to the problem. The early part of Mr Plummer’s career was involved in the management of native rangeland. In more recent times his efforts have been devoted to research and its application to the artificial revegetation of depleted and disturbed western wildlife and livestock rangelands. He has also given some attention to the revegetation of mine

spoils, road cuts and fills, but his main interest has been in the improvement of rangelands for wildlife and livestock. The author and coauthor of more than 65 publications, his work has • been widely recognised in a number of awards. Mr Plummer will arrive in New Zealand next week and in more than a month in the country will travel widely in the South Island. During his stay he will examine and dicsuss with staff of the Soil and Water Division and other organisations and report to the National Water and Soil Organisation and Lincoln College on vegetation problems and opportunities in the Mackenzie Basin and similar tussock grassland areas, and make recommendations to these two organisations on how these problems and opportunities can be researched or resolved. Readers will be glad to; ; know that Mr McCaskill still retains his old enthusiasm but sad to learn that Mrs McCaskill has lately been ill and will hope that she will soon be restored in health so that she and Mr McCaskill can fulfill an engagement that they have been greatly looking forward to — the centennary celebrations of Timaru Girls’ and Boys’ High Schools at Easter.