NOXIOUS WEEDS.

Hawera & Normanby Star, Volume XLII, Issue 7389, 15 February 1902, Page 2

NOXIOUS WEEDS.

We notice that settlers have in several oases applied to the local authorities requesting that steps be taken for the eradication of noxious weeds. Really, this duty is not cast upon local authorities, vrho have simply power to declare certain plants " noxious weeds " within their jurisdiction. The obligation to clear noxious weeds is oast entirely upon the occupiers of the land, and, under the Noxious Weeds Act of 1900, when such land abuts on a road the boundaries of the land on eaoh side of the road shall, for the purposes of this Aot, be deemed to be extended to the centre of the road, and the occupier of the land shall accordingly be deemed to be the occupier of bo muoh of tbe road as is within suoh extended boundaries. The power to compel the removal of noxious weeds rests with the Government, who appoint inspectors (in this district the Btock inspector) to carry out the .provisions of the Act referred to. One weed in . particular which threatens to become a ourse to this

district is the ragwort, or ragweed, and in this oooneotion we have been shown a letter which may be of interest to many. The writer says : " There is something I should like to put betore# 3 r ou with regard to a weed which is beginning to overrun the province, and which is already assuming dangerous proportions near Inglewood. I refer to the common ragwort, or senecio jacobceus of i science. In poor soil it spreads very quickly, and is a meuace to agriculture, as no stock will eat it. In England the larva of the cinnabar moth feeds exclusively on this weed, and I am inclined to think that it might act as a check to the weed. Of course there is the possibility that it might attack something of value, but Ido not think it likely ; anyhow, I consider that it is worth making exhaustive enquiries about. The insect would be imported very readily in the pupa state if it was kept cool through the tropics. As far as I know, the larva turns to a chrysalid underground beside the roots of the ragwort, and the imago appears to lay its eggs on the plant before it comes in flower, so that the larva, if I in sufficient quantities, might prevent it blooming. I am almost certain that the pupa remains buried through the winter, but it would be as well to make sure. If this is the case, nothing would be easier than to get a few hundred chrysalids about September, and deposit them in the ground here in .November, when the warmth of the sun would bring them out in readiness to Jay their eggs on the ragwort before it blooms."