Rvral Notes.

Timaru Herald, Volume XIIIC, Issue 14141, 26 February 1910, Page 2 (Supplement)

Rvral Notes.

(By "Koradi.")

NOXIOUS WEEDS. One sees,, in. the papers, that notices are being" served on local bodies by the Stock, Inspectors, requesting that attention be paid to noxious weeds growing on road lines, riverbeds, and ■reserves under the control of these local authorities. Presumably similar notices are being issued to private land owners and occupiers. Judging by the way in. which certain weeds are epreadirig it is quite necessary that attention should be drawn to them, and that those whose duty it is to keep them in check should be compelled to ! do so. Mention has been made in this column uite recently of California!! Thistle and ragwort. The former exists to a degree that is rather alarming when one considers how many farms there are in South Canterbury upon which it is to be found. And yet we are told that other portions of the Dominion are in worse case by far than South Canterbury. It ; has heeii proved that, ragwort, too,; is. present, and if it is not dealt with ;' in every caso where it is noticed, there j can be no doubt that it will gain pos- \ session, of much land that is at present quite free from it. Californian thistle I is, .no doubt, spreading, and .on land that is really too valuable to be given , over to it. It may be kapt in check '■ to. spine -extant by thorough fallow- - ing, and by growing quick forage crops, and' ny smothering it down with thickly . sown grain crops. It may be kept. from spreading by leaving the land in grass, and then cutting the thistle' plants off before they seed, but tho task of effectually dealing with it is rather a hopeless one. Yet it is being ', allowed to flourish, lustily, particularly on patches of land that are unoccupied, cr in no one's charge. It is stated that it may be seen flourishing luxuriantly and seeding on some riverbeds, acd. that freshes in the river cannot help but disperse both plants and seeds. Xo more deadly enemy to the agricultural farmer can bo found than the Californian thistle. Any neglect of ours at the preseent time may mean depreciation in the price of the land which, will become infested with it, and an unending struggle in the future to clear it out. " There are two other noxious weeds or plants that are spreading, and. that must be kept down. They are sweet briar and blackberry. Of theese two sweet briar is becoming the most ccfti- ' mon. It is difficult to say which would be the worst if they got away. Sweet briar is spreading en riverbeds, and also on rough bush arid scrub country. Once, it gets p. bold its eradication is extremely difficult. You cut the main roots out, and the smaller roots ?fchat run into the ground will each grow into a plant. One may see quite 'a," circle of small plants growing where a : big sweet briar bush, las been "grubbed - out. If it gets "mixed up with scrub, forse or broom, the clearing of it is a. fg "problem. I have seen teams of parses pulling the plants out root and branch, but in a few years' time the briars were there worse than ever. Itis to be hoped that, land-owners when-: ever .they see it will make a point of keeping it down, and roadmen should be instructed by their .employers, the Road Boards and County Councils,, to, root out the isolated bunches one so often; sees beautifying the roadsides.. , Blackberries are fond of = growing in gorse fences. Perhaps birds carry the; seed there. 'Whether . the fence is trimmed or not the blackberry should Went out at least every autumn. Borne frugal housewives object to this, because they like to make blackberry jam, but. the risks attending the seednig' aid spread of the pest scarcely justify the showing .6i any "clemency. Buch weeds as twitch, sorrel and fatben, are comparatively harmless compared to the pests I have mentioned.