NATURALISTS’ FIELD CLUB

Evening Star, Issue 21714, 8 May 1934, Page 7

NATURALISTS’ FIELD CLUB

ADDRESS DN WEEDS At the meeting on Monday evening a very interesting and instructive address was given by Mr J. E. Davies entitled ‘ Weeds in and Around Dunedin.-' A weed, the lecturer said, hi ay be defined as a plant growing where it is not wanted. The term weed is of relative value, for a plant may be a weed in some places, but yet be very valuable as a pasture plant. In and around Dunedin, with its varied climatic conditions, are a large number of weeds in the sense of plants which have no value as fodder. Of great importance are those weeds which are the farmer’s real foes. The most troublesome is ragwort, a weed which should be eradicated whenever seen. The only control known is the use. of sodium chlorate spray on small areas. The bid-a-bid is one of the greatest pests in New Zealand, causing great trouble to the sheep farmer, and so far no method of controlling it has been found. Californian thistle at one time seemed likely to overrun the country, but can be kept under control by cultivation and deep ploughing. Creeping fog is another foe of the farmer, very troublesome on the Taieri. It is also common in lawns and gardens. These are undoubtedly the worst weeds, but many others are found round Dunedin. Old man couch grass is common on pasture, but has no feed? ing value for stock except on very poor fertility soils. Hawkbit is everywhere, but often confused with dandelion, although it may readily be distinguished by the rougher, hairy leaf. Hydrocotylo is especially found on lawns where the fertility is running low. Browntop is found especially on poorer ground, and is a weed from the agricultural point of view, though at present much seed is being exported to America for laying down lawns. In gardens common weeds are chickweed, wireweed, spurge, , groundsel, shepherd’s purse, wild geranium, hedge mustard, and cresses. On waste land one finds barley grass, convolvulus, periwinkle, and docks. Grasses which ar4 Weeds from an agricultural point of view include sweet vernal, poa annual, soft brome, and creeping bent. Bracken is common as a weed in the North Island, especially around Stratford, but is not troublesome round Dunedin. A rarer weed is one with a pungent odour, to bo found at Whare Flat, termed stinkweed. Other widespread weeds are self-heal, onion-rooted twitch with bulbous roots, buttercups, plantains, docks, tarweed with bright yellow flowers and sticky leaves, trembling grass, daisies, stinging nettle, wild for-get-me-not, foxglove, and Scotch thistle. In the case of both wild turnip and fathen it has been found that the seed may lie dormant for a number of years. Fumitory is common on the Taieri, and is easily recognised, as it is always in flower. Two nightshades are to be found, a black-berried one which is poisonous and not common, and the much commoner red-berried, non-poi-sonous one. Hemlock is another poisonous weed, but not very common near Dunedin. Horehound and camomile are fairly common; but not so often seen is wormwood. Weeds afford a good indication of soil and climatic conditions. In wet soils are found such weeds as watercress and willow weed, while on sour or acid soils sorrel and spurrey are sure to be present. Much interest was taken in the collection of weeds on view. After several questions had been answex - ed a very hearty vote of thanks to the speaker was proposed by Miss Cartwright and carried by acclamation.