AERIAL SPREADING OF HORMONE WEED-KILLER

Greymouth Evening Star, 21 June 1950, Page 4

AERIAL SPREADING OF HORMONE WEED-KILLER

WANGANUI, This Day (P.A.).—The publication yesterday of an account of aerial sowing of a hormone weed-killed on 20 acres of hill country in the Fordell district to kill variegated thistle brought an appeal this morning from Mr E. B. Chisholm, of Wanganui, Dominion president of the Commercial Growers’ Association, that any farmers using hormone weed-killers should be most careful in their application, because of the possibility of damage on other properties. He commented that the use of hormones on a large scale, particularly through aerial topdressing, might lead to their effect spreading, particularly beyond the point of application. . , , ~ There have been discusions already on the need for legislation to cover the use of hormones from- the air. Dust hormone was used at Fordell, it was explained today, and the area was isolated in relation to other properties. A suitably day was selected and no homes were within several miles in the direction of a very slight wind drift. The aircraft flew very low and the whole operation was under the personal direction of experts. The hormone was sown in association with a chalky clay powder and the spread was reported to be very effective.