WEEDS CONTROL

Gisborne Herald, Volume LXXIV, Issue 22314, 26 April 1947, Page 8

WEEDS CONTROL

COUNCIL ACTION TREATMENT METHODS SURVEY OF PROBLEMS An indication that legal action to enforce the obligations of propertyowners in the control of noxious weeds will be taken if full co-operation is not secured by a circular appeal now being sent to the property-owners c concerned was given in a report subd mitted by the engineer, Mr, K. F. Jones. :s! at Tuesday’s meeting of the Cook n County Council, )- The engineer tabled a report by Mr. g J. Gunn, overseer to the county, on his is recent visit to the soil fertility research station at Hamilton, where he inspected the results of early work on * weed-control experiments. 0 The overseer offered comments upon ’• the weed-control problem of the Cook d County as follows: :- “The spread of weeds between Gisborne and Hamilton is very noticeable, . especially blackberry and broom along s roadsides and badly on unfarmed land. . The importance of weed control in the -] county cannot be too highly stressed, j as at present in many areas it is in the ’ early stages of spreading and may be checked. Thistle a Potential Menace s “Taking the weeds iii the Cook County * in order of their importance, the followi ing treatments are recommended:— “Variegated Thistle, which in many - hill country farms where land is good, - appears to be the greatest menace beI cause it spreads rapidly and often i covers the best grazing country: It can 1 be killed with sprays, but it is very 1 doubtful if there is any cheaper or betf ter method than the one commonly ; used by farmers in this county (called - spudding) that is cutting the plant be- , low the crown before the flower heads i form. The method of grazing may have a great effect on the germination of the 1 thistle seed and should be studied by : farmers. \ “Blackberry, which is fairly thick in , some areas of the Cook County, can ; become very serious if allowed to ’ spread: With this plant the common ; method of one treatment a year is of ; I little use, because between times the ; above-ground portion of the plant will make vigorous growth, and therefore the root system will increase and the plant will be as strong again next year, it is quite obvious that no plant of the blackberry type can live for many years if the leaf growth is not allowed to ■ form. Clearing of Dead Canes “Continual cutting, burning, or spraying with chlorate 5 per cent are all good provided the growth is kept down to ground level. It is also important that if spraying or burning is carried out that dead or scorched canes be removed as they serve as a cover for young growth and prevent goats or other stock from getting at the new shoots. Goats alone cannot kill out blackberry, but can be of great assistance, if the hard growth is kept down. "Probably the best method to eradicate blackberry is to clear all growth, sow down in grass, using fertiliser, and watch carefully for young plants, which must be kept down by the use of stock or some other method. Hormone sprays have little effect on blackberry. Sodium chlorate is good for killing off the top growth, but should be repeated as new growth forms. “Broom: Only small areas are affected in tin's county, but it is spreading rapidly between Rotorua and Hamilton and is considered by the research people as a menace. The method of eradication recommended where possible is cutting and burning. This will bring about a crop of young plants which can then be sprayed. Ploughing is not recommended unless it can be repeated as seedlings appear. “Ragwort: This plant is not very bad in the Cook County, but it is prevelant in the Waikato and King Country and can be a menace on cattle land. Hormone sprays are quite effective, but should be used well before the flowering stage, otherwise the seed will set. Sodium chlorate may also be used in dust form when the plants are young. Stock Become Ragwort Addicts "Where plants are plentiful sheep will clean it out. Once they start eating the plant they become addicts and do ® not seem to do well on other foods after the ragwort has been cleared out. “Gorse: Not yet very bad in this county, and can be treated the same as blackberry or broom.” The engineer suggested an early meeting of the noxious weeds commit- ** teo, and the council, in adopting Mr. Gunn’s report and also the engineer’s, made a fixture for this meeting. ' The purchase of a supply of sodium chlorate for the council's own use, and possibily for emergency use by ratepayers, was authorised. A request by the engineer for a definition of policy regarding the use of goats in county plantations for blackberry control led Mr. J. R. Hair to express the opinion that such a step would be most dangerous. He pointed out that goats defoliated trees, killed young growth and exposed the roots of trees to damagfc. It was impossible to keep the animals within a confined area, moreover. Mr. F. S. Bowen: If there is anything you want to save, goats will kill it. The council was definite in its opposition to the introduction of goats into county reserves. Mr. C. Tietjcn congratulated Mr. Gunn on his report, and particularly on his reference to variegated thistle. It should be of some value to farmers to know that spudding was the best means of dealing with this pest, if not the only effective means. Other councillors agreed with Mr. Tietjen’s views and the engineer was asked to convey the council’s appreciation to Mr. Gunn.