New Zealand Department of Agriculture.

Manawatu Herald, 18 April 1896, Page 3

New Zealand Department of Agriculture.

JOHN D. RITCHIE, Secretary. LEAFLETS FOR FARMERS, No. 28.

By T. W. Kirk, F.L.S., &c, Lond., Government Biologist. Foliage, flower and bud. From Nature.

A perennial plant, sometimes as high as 2ft., usually growing in large tufts or clumps. Stems, simple or with few branches ; leaves, narrow and obtusely toothed, those near the roots wider, the upper ones sessile, that is, without stalks, clasping the stem, the lower petioled or stalked. The main stem and each long branch bears a single flower head. There is an external set of tbin scales, called the involucre, these are shown on the head in the centre of the illSstration, and within this are the orets or flowers, whioh are of two •kinds. The outside set of showy white florets, called " the ray," and inside the central mass of tubular yellow florets called the "disc," popularly known as the white and yolk of the ♦• poached egg," hence the name.

The plant is a native of Europe, but, like numerous other weeds, ig now spreading in many agricultural countries ; probably introduced in seed and hay. Neutralised throughout the colony, and causing great damage to grass-lands, Bpreads both by seed and root. Heavy stocking with sheep will exterminate it. It is said to have been introduced into some localities in America as a grazing plant for sheep, and also to have been sown at the rate of a quarter of a bushel per acre, for the pur. pose of restoring worn-out land too poor to grow clover. Such experiments are not to be recommended, and every effort should be made to keep this dangerous weed out of new localities.