ERADICATION OF FERN

Te Aroha News, Volume XLI, Issue 6409, 1 November 1923, Page 2

ERADICATION OF FERN

What he describes as promising to be an important discovery has recently been made in the North, in connection with the eradication of fern, by Mr. G. F. Alderton, who has just returned from the north. He states that with the advent of the railway and cheaper manure, several settlers started to topdress their lands with manure, and a few topdressed their fern-land, throwing the manure right over the fei*n, so that it would be washed into the soil and bring up the grass through the fern. The result was somewhat surprising. In a few weeks it was found that the cattle and sheep attacked the fern, and nibbled it right down close to the ground. This was not a singular case, but has happened whereever the fern has been topdressed. Apparently the manure on the fern has a sweetening or “buttering” effect, and makes the fern readily edible. It is necessary to state, adds Mr. Alderton, that the stock had not been c’”. shed on the fern land and forced to eat it, but the results described have been obtained on rich volcanic pasture land, with patches of fern surrounded by good English grasses. The fern is not merely nibbled, but is eaten dqwn to within a few inches of the ground, and in one case entirely by sheep. It is too early* to give an opinion as to what the result will be on the stock feeding*in this way, but there is np question as to the stock attacking the fern when topdressed with manure. The manure used in one case was the ordinary top-dressing mixture supplied by a freezing company, and in the other basic slag was used. Further experiments will prove what is the best manure to use for the purpose, and the most economical method of applying it. 1 Mr. Alderton says he considers this discovery will have a very important bearing, because during the last few years through understocking and the increase of dairying, a good deal of land has gone back into fern. Topdressing certainly revolutionised the Waikato, and he thinks it may have a twofold effect in the north of eradicating fern as well as manuring the ground. The results referred to are to be seen in the Okaihau district, Bay of Islands, particularly on Mr. Nixon’s farm. Several -settlers are now carrying* on further experiments in that district.—N..Z. Herald.