CALJFORNIAN THISTLE

Dominion, Volume 4, Issue 1100, 12 April 1911, Page 10

CALJFORNIAN THISTLE

IMPORTED WITH OTHER SEED. Tho following statement regarding the presence of the seed of Califomian thistlo among alsike seed has been made by the biologist, of .the Department of Agriculture :— '■•-.•, There appears to be great difficulty in securing alsike seed that is perfectly free from/Califoriiian .thistle.. The majority of the seed of • this clover imported into Kew Zealand is of Xortli American origin, and much of that classed as' English is in reality Canadian-grown. It is said that much of this American seed is quite thistle-free, -but -tliis- statement is not borue'out by "a recent examination of a considerable numbervnfeamplcs represent'•'ingTU :l>uik of many toils of seed. A very large percentage were found to contain fertile seeds of Califomian thistle. In most cases the actual number of seeds .per pound was not great, but a very small percentage is liable to cause a great deal of harm, especially when sown iu localities where Califomian thistle has not yet become established. In five separate samples the amount of thistle present was as follows.:—Sample A, 3 thistle seeds per pound, equals 0.0005 par cent, by numbers; Sample B, 6 thistle seeds per pound, equals 0.001 per cent, by numbers; Samplo C, 7 thistle seeds per pound, equals 0.00117 per cent. , - by numbers; Sample D, 18 thistlo seeds per-pound, .equals 0.003 percent: by numbers; Samplo E,. 32 thistlo seeds per pound, equals 0.00531 per cent, by numbers. One pound of.alsike seed is calculated to contain '600,000 seeds.' ' : . It will bo noted that the amount is in reality very small when the number of. alsiko seeds in a poundyis considered. Thus, in Sample E, with two thistle seeds per ounce, there- would be one thistle seed tq about 19,000 alsike seeds. Many seed-control stations would deem such a sample thistle-free; and, were it not for the. fact that Califomian thistle is, in New Zealand, looked upon as the most dangerous impurity of agricultural seed, such small percentages as wero found in the first three samples might be disregarded. ..'.'.

From the samples quoted above it -will bo seen that if very small amounts of seed—say, half, an ounce—had been examined in each case, - four. of the samples.'CMUd.ve]-y...:'oas'ily have boon reckoned quite thistle-free, which would have been found incorrect when larger amounts of seed were examined. For this reason I would strongly advise. farmers who are sowing alsiko in their mixtures to buy on samples of not loss than I ounces. If such an amount contained no thistle, it would be safe to infer that the bulk line contained very little if any thistle seeds. It must be remembered that a few minutes' examination before purchasing tho seed may bo tho means of avoiding endless labour in attempting to eradicate Californian thistle after it has once b3comc ■ established through the medium of affected alsike seed.

Were it not for the fact that alsike is such a valuable clover on heavy soils, and also on light lands where.the rainfall is more than SOin. per year, I would be inclined not to favour its use except where it was absolutely certain to be thistlefree. At the present time I do not think it an exaggeration to say that over 50 per cent, of the alsike imported into the Dominion, contains the seeds of Californian thistle.

Tiie turnip crop, of which there wofo some 1100 acres "laid down" by the settlers under the improved farm scheme, and whose holdings lie adjacent to Owhango, on the Main Trunk, is a complete failure (says an exchange), thus doing away with the chances of obtaining good spring grazing for top-ping-off the fats, and preventing thesmall settler, just on his laud and struggling against big odds, from making a few welcome pounds in grazing fees.

The grass grubs arc reported to have been responsible for much damage in tho Lisraore and Alaronan districts (in Canterbury), and as tho soil is literally alive with these pests in the grub ant! larval stages, farmers are in doubt regarding tho advisableness of sowing grain in and that has been cultivated in readiness for next season's crop. Reports to band show that tho grass grubs are in evidence practically in every part of tho country. The valuo of the Mildura (New South Wales) fruit cron this season totals no I«S3 than the best yet harvested. White tho Minister for Agriculture was at the Biverdale factory a few days ago, reports tho Hawera "Star," a quantity of the butter made from the whey was being boxed up ready for the market, and was of first-grade finality. The secretary stated that about IJllj. of butter was made from 10001b. of vhey, but tho percentage- of butter varied, and sometimes went as high as 2!lb. to 10001b. At the present time, when unly five out of twelve vats arc in use, the quantity of butter made is from (101b. to IOnll). a day, so that for the height of a season 2001b. would be a fair estimate. Tho Te "Wharau correspondent of the "Age" says that tho dry weather continues there, and the country on all sides bears a very parched appearance. No rain has fallen for a montk,