A PECULIAR WEED.

Wairarapa Age, Volume XXIX, Issue 8248, 1 October 1906, Page 6

A PECULIAR WEED.

(To the Editor). Sir,—ln a local in this morning's Ago occurs the following: "it is reported that a peculiar weed likely to prove a nuisance has appeared in tbe Patea district. The weed hay a heliotrope flower, and it is supposed to have been introduced to the district by sheep brought from Napier." The plant referred to is the oommon vervain or wild verbena of Europe, and was formerly much used for medicinal purposes. It was introduced into New Zealand among impure agricultural seeds many years ago, Hnd is now widely distributed in both islands. It already .ooours abundantly in some localities in laranaki and Hawke'a Bay, bat is much more so in the and by the roadsides north of Auoklaud. In growth the foliage of the vervain closely resembles the common coreopsis or "pin-cushion" of gardens, and, like the latter, raises its trusses of dark heliotropecoloured flowers to a height of eighteen inches or two feet. There is no need for farmers or pastoralists to feel uneasy about the spread of vervain, as both sheep and cattle eat it in winter, while it is easily eradicated by spadp or plough. 1 enclose a small dried sreoimen of tbe flower, which will enable enquirers to identify the plant shuuld it be found in the Masterton district. It would prove of great practical assistance to agriculturists and pastoralista in the Wairarapa to oolloot all doubtful plants occurring on their properties and bring them to the rooms of the Agrioulfeura! Sooiety and have them all oarefully dried and named for future reference. It serves as a good means of illustrating the form and growth c? all objectionable plants.—lam, etc., W. W. SMITH. September 29th. (A pressed specimen of the verbena officinalis (naturalised) has been forwarded to this office by Mr Smith.— Ed. W.A.)