ERADICATING SWEET BRIER.

New Zealand Mail, Issue 1291, 26 November 1896, Page 5

ERADICATING SWEET BRIER.

This pernicious bush is becoming a great nuisance in many parts of the colony, and as a rule among the most valuable lands, such as rich river flats. ]n spite of the sums of money spent in attempting to get rid of this pest it keeps making its appearance at long distances apart. Birds carry the seeds for long distances. Cattle and horses also eat the berries, which contain hundreds of seeds, and are distributed in their droppings. Before complete eradication can be effected, all seedbearing bushes must be destroyed, and many methods have been tried. A cheap and what is considered to be an effective mode is recommended as used in New South Wales. A few men, the Sydney Mail states, are supplied with bill-hooks with blades a foot in length, strong, heavy, concaveshaped, faced with best steel, and fitted with long handles, and cut the stems of the plant close to the ground. Strong leather gloves covering hands and arms up to the elbows, and similar leggings reaching to the thighs are required, and a long-handled three prong fork, as the briar is armed from root to extremity of stem with strong, needle-pointed prickles. The work is best done in summer. When completed the cut branches are piled on the stumps and left till dry, and burned before winter sets in. Then when the ground has been softened with rain the straight stem of a cross-grained gum tree about 2ft in diameter is obtained, an Bft length cut, and split or chopped off a quarter or a little more. Into the log is driven a double row of strong ironcurved spikes, leaving sin of them protruding from the log to the beginning of the curve. From these to the point should be not less than Sin. Attach a strong frame and pole or shafts to the log for yoking either bullocks or horses—lo bullocks are best. Draw the log over the roots of the bush ; the points of the curved spikes enter the ground and penetrate below the roots, which run along closely interwoven below the surface at a depth of from 1 inch to 4: inches. The tap roots are short, and come out with the others. The spikes remove the whole in one mass, like a door mat. A lever can be attached to the log so that the points of the spikes can be kept out of the ground when not required. This is stated to be an effective, expeditious, and cheap method of getting rid of the sweet briar.