CONTROL OF FOXGLOVE.

Wairarapa Age, 7 May 1924, Page 7

CONTROL OF FOXGLOVE.

HOW TO ERADICATE. '' The Live-stock Division (Noxious Weeds Inspector, says that foxglove when once firmly established, especially in bush-clearcd lands where logs and stumps abound, is a most difficult plant to eradicate, as it is a biennial and a very free seeder. If it already has a good hold on the land all that Can be done (if the land is unploughable) is to pull up or cut down, to prevent seeding, the whole of the plants that appear. This carried out for a number of years should have the desired effect of eventually eradicating the weed. It entails a good deal of work unless done when the plant first makes its appearance. Cutting or pulling should be done before the plants arc in full flower, as the flower-ing-period i s fairly long and seeds will have matured on the lower stem before tho upper portion has finished flowering. When eradication, is aimed at foxglove should be dealt with twice yearly; firstly, when the floweringstems are developing the plant should be pulled up, secondly, during the blossoming period any standing should be cut down or pulled up. Any small plants that are not in flower should also be pulled up or chipped out. If dealt with in the early stages it may be eradicated in a few years, (nut where it has infested the land for a number of years young plants will keep springing up.

Statements have been made that if left alone foxglove will eventually die out, but we would certainly advise you not to wait for such a result, whether the plant has been declared a noxious weed or not. In districts where it has been declared to be a noxious weed by the local authority th e Noxious Weeds Act requires that it shall be cut down and kept cut down, or grubbed or pulled up to prevent the spread by seeding or otherwise.