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Dominion, Volume 21, Issue 120, 18 February 1928, Page 13

The menace of ragwort to farming in Tarapaki during the past few years has been a problem that seriously exercised the minds of many landholders, and has been the cause of ninny changes from dairying to sheepfarming. So marked has been the spread of this weed that farming interests have actively taken up the matter (says an exchange). The following news was received in Hawera last week from Dr. Tillyard, of the Oawthron Institute, Nelson: “The position in regard to ragwort control is exceedingly promising. We had hoped to have this open permit before this, but our committee (rightly. I think) insisted on very stringent tests being made with cinnabar moth before the permit was granted. We have been carrying out during the present summer a very extensive series of tests with this moth. You will be gratified to learn that tlie last test was completed this morning, and the general result is such that a permit may safely now he asked for. My report on this moth will go forward to Dr. Marsden to-morrow, and a request for an open permit will bo made. We anticipate the issuing of a permit about the end of February, and plan to have a fair-sized brood ready by then to put on large open flats of ragwort in our grounds. Batches of eggs from three moths will be available for distribution to ragwort centres, and one of oul- men will come up and demonstrate to your district, methods of handling them. You will be one of the first to receive supplies."