Eradication of Fern

Stratford Evening Post, Volume XXXIX, Issue 99, 31 August 1923, Page 7

Eradication of Fern

EXPERiENCE IN THE NORTH. What he describes a s promising to be an important discovery has recently been made in tho North, in connection with the eradication of fern, by Mr G. E. Alderton, who has just returned to Wanganui from the North. Ho states that with the advent of the railway and cheaper manure, several settlers started to xopdress lands with manure, and a lew top-dressed their fem land, throwing tho manure right ovor the fern, so that it would be washed into the soil and bring tip the grass through tho fern. The result wa« somewhat surprising. In a few weeks it was found that tho cattlo and sheep attacked the fern and nibbled it right down close to the ground. This was not a singular case, but has happened wherever the fern has been topdressed. Apparently tho manure on the fern has a sweetening or "buttering" effect, and make the fern readilv edible.

It is necessary to state, adds Mr Alderton. that tho stock has not been rushed on to the fern land and forced to oat it. but the results doscribed have been obtained on rich volcanic pasture land, with patches of fern surrounded by good Engli h grasses. The fern la not merely nibbled, but is eaten down to within a few inches "of the ground, and in one case entirely by sheep. It 13 too early to give nn opinion as to what tho result will bo on the stock feeding in this way, but there is no qpestion as to the stock attacking the fem when top-dressed with manure. Tho manure used in one case wa s the ordinary ton-dressing mixture supplied by a freezing company, and in the other basic slag was ured. Further experiments will prove what is tho best manure to use for tho pnirpo«e. and the most economical method of applying it. Mr.Alderton says he considers this discovery will have a very important bearing, because during the la<t few years, through and the increase of dairying, a good deal of land has gone back into fern. Top-dressing certainly revolution! ed tho Waikato, and ho thinks it may | have a two-fold effect in the North of eradicating fern as well as manuring the ground. Tho results referred to are to be <een in tho Okaihau district. Bay of Islands, particularly <Jn Mr V, Nixon's farm. Several settlers are now carrying on further experiments in that district.