LANTANA SHRUB REGARDED AS A CURSE ON NORFOLK

Gisborne Herald, Volume LXXVI, Issue 22887, 5 March 1949, Page 10

LANTANA SHRUB REGARDED AS A CURSE ON NORFOLK

While the lantana is a favoured ornamental shrub in Gisborne, as well as in other parts of New Zealand, it is regarded as a menace in Norfolk Island, where farmers have to fight continually to keep its spread within bounds. Two Norfolk Island visitors to Gisborne this week wore horrified when they saw lantana growing in the gardens. They consider it a danger to the surrounding' countryside if the black berries following the flowers are carried away indiscriminately by the birds. That is what occurs on their island. It was claimed that the frosts in New Zealand kept the shrub in control, but the visitors were not to be impressed and they suggested that gardeners should watch the habits of the lantana closely, particularly, noting if the berries formed. On Norfolk Island farmers were being driven from their land by the spread of the lantana. It was introduced many years ago by a Captain Bates, who planted it as an ornamental shrub. A native who carried a seed from an infested area to a clean island in the group was singled out and unceremoniously bad his throat cut for his indiscretion.