AN AUSTRALIAN PEST

Marlborough Express, Volume XLVII, Issue 144, 20 June 1913, Page 6

AN AUSTRALIAN PEST

TO DESTROY THE PRICKLY

PEAR.

SYDNEY, May 31. Another man, a Mr Rasmussen,. from America, has turned up in this, country fully convinced that he has struck upon a method for dealing economically with this country s greatest vegetable pest—the variety of-.cactus called prickly pear. Scores have tried their plans in the past, and probably scores will try -again in the future. There is no lack of opportunity for the man anxious to try bis hand, for there are no less than 15,----000,000 acres given over to the pest in the States of New South Wales and Queensland. Amongst the men who have striven after the reward or £10,000 which has gone begging m Queensland for many a day,_ and which would be gladly doubled, and trebled for an effective and economic remedy, have been pathologists, commercial men, land speculators, chemists, graziers, and others. They haveunfolded all sorts of schemes. Principally the method of treatment proposed" has been to destroy the pear with chemical compounds by means of sprays, while others have suggested cutting machines, and others have proposed to use up the pear by manufacturing it into low grade spirit, paper pulp, sugar, and certain kinds of dyes. But after making inspections and investigations these men have invariably retired from the contest. The trouble is that so far ashas been ascertained yet the_ compounds which would be used in the work of destruction are too costly. In other words, the work of eradication would cost more than the land wouldf be worth when cleared, and as the soil is full of seed in.the infested territory, there is further evil in embryo when the old plants are burnt off. . But despite the failures of the past find all the difficulties, it is believed that someone will yet solvethe problem. The prize which awaits success is a very rich. one. Cannot one of the brainy young New Zealanders gain it, and with it much honor and gratitude?