BLACKBERRY

Hawera Star, Volume XLVIII, 2 October 1924, Page 5

BLACKBERRY

SEARCH FOR A DESTROYER. £IO,OOO REWARD. (By Telegraph.—Special to the Star.) WELLINGTON, Oct. 1. The blackberry pest is one of the problems which is greatly harassing the farming community in many parts of the Dominion. In fact in some districts it has assumed such large dimensions that the question of its control has become one really of national importance,” states the Minister of Agriculture (Mr. NosworthyV in announcing the offer of a very substantial reward for a discovery of a method of eradication.

or y ears past-,’’ continued the Minister, “the Government has experimented to endeavour to • ascertain some efficient practical and economical means of eradication, and at the present time a rather extensive programme of experimental work is under wav, especially in the Wairoa County and Hawke’s Bay. The whole question was recently discussed by, Cabinet, and it was decided that in order lo encourage investigation by private individuals the Government would offer a bonus of not more than £IO,OOO for an efficient, practical and economical remedy for the eradication of blackberry, other than by cultivation, farm management, or tree-planting methods. Applicants for the bonus will be requested to prove by actual trials before a committee appointed by the Government that the remedy is fully effective in eradicating blackberry at a. cost of not more than double that of cutting down the plants about the ground level. I am rather afraid that no easy and cheap method will be evolved, but the bonus may bo an inducement for a considerable amount of private experimental work being carried out which may usefully supplement the work in hand bv the department. I may add that the department is giving considerable attention to biological methods of control, and is hopeful of securing some natural enemy that may be a means of at least reducing the spread of the pest. Blackherrv is .subject in Europe to infestation bv ipany fungi that are absolutely restricted in their attacks to that plant. ' Full . arrangements are under wav to have all ,those that a,re likely to be of any value tested, and it is possible sonie at least will prove of significance in reducing the nest, though different climatic conditions here as compared with the colder weather: experienced in manv. ..European countries may have the effect in bringing about varying results.