TWO COMMON WEEDS.

Sun (Christchurch), Volume II, Issue 473, 16 August 1915, Page 10

TWO COMMON WEEDS.

v HOARY CRESS.

This weed is increasing very rapidly, and in some parts of North Canterbury I have seen paddocks of crops and grass nearly white when this was in full flower (writes Mr A. Hughes, of the Agricultural Department). It is a native of Europe, Asia, and Africa; is a perennial, with deep-pene-trating roots which contain much stored food.?' Pieces of the root will grow, as in the case of Californian thistle, twitch, etc. • . It grows from Ift to 3ft high, has oblong leaves, the lower stalked; the upper have an arrow-headed base which clasps the stem. The flowers are of a whitish colour, in short corymbose clusters somewhat like that of the carrot. Flowering occurs in October and November. The seed-pods are small, flattened, and heart-shaped, with one seed in each cell. It is a prolific sender, and difficult to eradicate when once it is established. Summer fallowing, deep ploughing, and frequent stirrings are the best means of eradication. Cutting to prevent seeding and frequent hoeing will often* give good results, and any roots thus brought to the surface should be burnt. This weed, as I have already said, is becoming very prevalent, and requires far more attention than it is receiving. I have seen it cultivated in gardens and shrubberies. St. John's Wort. This is another of the J< creeping weeds," is a perennial, and a native'of Europe, Asia, and Africa. Erect stem, from 2ft to 3ft high; leaves oblong and about half an inch long, of a bluishgreen tint; flowers bright yellow dotted with black, in terminal clusters, which when crushed stain the hand yellow. The plant contains an oil of some slight medicinal value, but this oil and the woody nature of the plant renders it injurious in fodder. It has deeply penetrating roots, and forms short runners, pieces of which, if broken off, will grow. It is most troublesome in pasture land, as it attains such a height that it overtops all but the tallest and coarsest grasses. This weed is not troublesome in England, as there it is not allowed to get established. . *.

' It being a perennial and spreading from the roots as well as seed, deep ploughing in a dry season, if followed by a potato crop, does not give the plant a chance to get away if the potatoes are kept as clean as they should be. A root crop may be required the following year before the land is safe for grain. . Since this plant is a heavy seeder, it must be cut down before the seeds are formed.