RAGWORT PEST CONTROL

Taranaki Daily News, 9 August 1930, Page 11

RAGWORT PEST CONTROL

DEMONSTRATION IN URENUI. In accordance with the Government’s .endeavours to assist farmers in carrying out a practical and speedy method of° coping with the ragwort menace which is prevalent in most districts, a demonstration organised by the Urenui branch of the Farmers’ Union was carried out yesterday afternoon on the property of Mr. Hapi Thomson, Okoke Rond, by Mr. VV. Sutton, of the Agricultural Department* Widespread interest was taken in the demonstration, which- was attended by GO farmers representing the Moerangi, Kaipikari, Urenui, Okoke, Waitoitoi and Pukearuhe districts.

In outlining the scheme for ragwort destruction Mr. Sutton stated the efficacious method was by spraying with sodium chlorate in a 2| per cent, solution, which was guaranteed to give 10b, per cent, kills. The best results were obtained when the young ragwort plants were from, say, three to nine inches high. For scattered plants a good method was to carry a small tin of sodium chlorate and after bruising the plant apply a pinch of the'crystals. Ragwort plants in the flowering stage could also be effectively treated, but required a greater quantity of the solution. Demonstrations were carried out on various infested parts of the section, a number of strips being left for comparison purposes. Clumps of blackberry were also treated, the solution in this instance being strengthened to 8 to 10 per cent. On behalf of those present .Mr, Luxton thanked Mr. Sutton. Mr. Sutton stated the department intended doing everything possible to instruct farmers in the use of sodium chlorate and expected with the co-operation of farmers the attack on ragwort this coming season would show a marked result.