WANTED, A NOXIOUS WEEDS BILL.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 10731, 20 February 1897, Page 3

WANTED, A NOXIOUS WEEDS BILL.

TO THE EniTOE. ' ' 1 Sic, —To anyone moving in the highways and j byways of country places, the immediate need ' of a noxious weeds bill is alarmingly apparent. ! I have spent a good portion of the p&3t summer in country N districts, and have been greatly impressed with fche astonishingly rapid spread i of various weeds and plants, and these of a kind : almost impossible of eradication when once tney ' have gained a footing. Fertile fields are filled ■ with docks, fat-hen, tares, &c.; on river beds [ and waste grounds luxuriant forests of gorae '■ and thistles flourish, with an undergrowth of ; almost every detested grass under the anu-an j infinite variety that might gladden the heart of i a botanist, but one that can hardly be a pleasant; spectacle to fche farmer. And the latter, with his usual apathy, sits down and waits. He has i heard fche saying that " While the grass grows ; the steed starves," bufc he seems incapable of ! inferring thafc while the weeds spread he is pre- ! paring lor future starvation. It is eqnally as important that the settler should keep down his weeds as tbat the squatter should keep down his rabbits. In many parts of America ruined and deserted holdings are to be seen, where the weeds foughs the farmer, and triumphed. I do nos anticipate quite so bad a future for our agriculturists as that, bufc I do say thafc bitter and unavailing regret will be their portion for neglecting the "stitch in time" policy. Every open piece of land is afc present Rimply a nursery for all kinds of rubbish. Why, even on the waste land bordering the Anderson's Bay road opposite the gasworks is fco be seen in full bloom "an extensive patch of _ the moat pestilent variety of American thistle. _ Bush clearings are beginning to abound with this nuisance, and dangerous burrs and plants hitherto unknown to the colonial farmer are showing themselves in every locality. The Hon John M'Kenzie wisely recognised the necessity for legislation in this matter. The measure, though requiring amendment, should never have been killed, and I would urge all farmers' clubs and unions to see thafc the matter is taking up this coming session.—' I am, &c., ' '. Dunedin, Feb. 18. Verb. Sap.