Another Weed Eradicator.

Te Aroha News, Volume XXVII, Issue 4377, 23 February 1909, Page 2

Another Weed Eradicator.

OFFERED TO GOVERNMENT AT £15,000.

The discovery of a mixture which is claimed to be capable of effectively eradicating Californian thistle, briar, ragwort, and blackberry, as well as other weeds, will be noted with great interest by farmers (states the “ Poverty Bay Herald.”) Mr Thomas Long, Matokimatoki, who has taken out the patent rights of his discovery, informed a “ Herald ” representative that his specific was under offer to the Government at the present time, and if it withstood a six months’ trial, as he was confident it would, he was to receive £15,000. The eradicator will, it is understood, be submitted to a two years’ test, to cover a couple of seasons. Mr Long added that on his property at Matokimatoki, he was able to show patches which had been treated two years ago and were to-day without a blade of grass. The eradicator, he said, completely destroyed all vegetable growth until the ground was turned over. On November 6th last an experiment was tried, he added, at Waihirere, where to-day the patches are as bare as a table. The eradicator, Mr Long explained, could be applied equally effectively at any season, with the weeds standing or cut, and in 24 hours the effect was visible. After a lapse of fourteen days. Californian thistle, ho claimed, could be pulled out with 6 in, or 12 in. of the roots, the latter perished aud black, whilst a week was sufficient to do the same with ragwort. The mixture, the iuventor wrnt on to say, could be manufactured very cheaply—7d for a kerosene tin of four gallons, and he was in hopes of further reducing the cost of production.

Mr Long recently obtained his first commission from Mr Faulkner, of Muriwai, where he is to receive £SO for eradicating the weeds on a quarter of an acre. Two offers, Mr Long added in conclusion, had been received from private concerns for the purchase of his secret, which, in fact, would be more remunerative to him than his »ffer to the Government, and he would be quite satisfied to receive the Department’s certificate of approval. The official test will be watched with considerable interest.