A NEW WEED

Evening Post, Volume CXIII, Issue 29, 4 February 1927, Page 4

A NEW WEED

APPEARS IN THE NORTH

THE "STRAWBERRY-RASP-

BERRY"

Recently specimens have been received at the Biological Laboratory at Eelburn of a plant which the farmer at Dargaville who sent it said "was spreading fast on his land and was likely to prove a worse weed than blackberry." The specimens, when examined, were found to be Eubus niecebrosus, a Japanese species grown in the TJnited States, where it is considered troublesome if allowed to spread, and there known as "strawberry-rasp-berry." .: The name given to the plant gives a very fair idea of its appearance. The plant when growing gives off a strong sickly ; smell, and it is stated that no stock will eat it. ■ Writing ab&ut this plant in the '^New Zealand Journal of Agriculture," Mr. E. Atkinson, of the Biological Laboratory, says that it is not known how the 'strawberry-raspberry originated in New Zealand, and it has not been previously recorded as an introduced, plant in the country. It may, Ke suggests, have imported as a garden-plant and escaped from cultivation, but nothing certain is known. fWhat is. more important is the fact that it has become definitely established, thus adding one mOre to New Zealand's list of noxious weeds. Noxious it certainly may be, for it is cap-

able of rapid spread by means of its

root system.. It is also likely that » birds eat the fruit and carry the seeds.

;.' Describing the invasion by this plant the Dargaville stock inspector, Mr. A. "W. Christie, reported as follows:— • "The land on -which this plant is growing is bush country, the bush having been, felled for about seven yeaTS.' The block' of country is. about 350 acres in extent, and the plant is growing in small Ibushes here and there all over the block in the same manner as blackberries 'grow ■ but if put- together the plants, would not cover many square yards.' The plant, is shallow-rooted, and .can be destroyed by fire.. On some of -the patches the lar/downer had heaped wood and made a fire, which killed the plants. The roots, however, travel a long- way just under the surface of

■the ground, and shoot up outside the

edge of -where the fire has/been. In my opinion it would be much easier to Mil than blackberry, as the plants can be pulled up from the root by hand." But six weeks later Mr. Christie reported that ■ the w.-jed was showing signs of spreading again. In the case of most well-known and long-established weeds, Mr. Atkinson points" out, it is easy enough to lay down definite' rules for their control under many different conditions, but with a weed like strawberry-raspberry little more than suggestions can be given. • These include burning and hand pulling, followed by a careful

■watch on the area outside that apparently occupied, by the plant, also the jise of sprays as for blackberry. 3?urther, in spite of what »has been said about stock not touching the plants, the possibilities of off with goats in cases where it is cohering largo areas must, be considered— though-as regards blackberry this latter method is still more or less-in the experimental stage. : .•■.., It:is thought that it is possible,that other fanners may - have, .cbme across this, weed,, but are unaware that the. plant is a new one to tho country. Any information about it, its Jiabits or methods used to keep it in check, the ■Biological Laboratory .would be glad to receive.. "A stitch in time save? nine," and steps taken now to eradicate the^ weed, before it takes still •further possession,-, may be the saving of endless trouble in the future.