RAGWORT MENACE

Te Awamutu Courier, Volume 62, Issue 4404, 19 March 1941, Page 2

RAGWORT MENACE

IN OTOROHANGA COUNTY. INSPECTOR’S REPORT. Reporting to yesterday’s meeting of tne Otorohanga County Council, the noxious- weeds inspector reported as follows: — “Herewith my report on ragwort eradication during the last 12 months. 1 consider the farmers in this County have made splendid efforts to cope with the pest, and as everyone has been out to increase production, once again the value of the ragwort gangs have been demonstrated. As many have been handicapped through lack of efficient labour, they could not have handled the job of poisoning their properties themselves however willing, and I can safely say that without the assistance of the gangs many would have been in a serious position.

“One thing I am certain of is that there has been a very big change for the better in the last few years, and one cannot see in every -direction the blazes of glory as in the past. Of course we all know that there will be ragwort in inaccessable places until the proper parasite is discovered, and at present our policy is to keep clean what we have and are able.

“In the year approximately 920 tons of mixture were applied, 12,000 odd acres treated and 5600 acres cut when poisoning could not be afforded and on Crown and Native properties.

“Sodium being unprocurable, we have used Atlacide with very satisfactory -results. At present we have 12i tons of Atlacide in stock, and 22 tons of lime, also 221 tons of mixture ready for application.

“Apart from the above quantities which were applied by the gangs, another 230 tons were applied by the farmers themselves, this clearly showing how anxious they are to eradicate the pest.”