SODIUM CHLORATE

Waipa Post, Volume 45, Issue 3211, 2 August 1932, Page 5

SODIUM CHLORATE

GOOD RESULTS AT PUKEATUA. During a brief discussion at the meeting of Te Awamutu branch of the Farmers’ Union last Saturday, on results obtained in the eradication of ragwort, one delegate mentioned that success had attended the efforts of a well-known farmer in the Pukeatua district. His farm had been badly infested with ragwort, particularly in tne last two years, and he stocked heaviiy with sheep. The animals ate down any growth, but there were countless “ buikons ” of ragwort discernible in 'the pastures. A week or so ago the landowner top-dressed his paddocks with a mixture of 15 lbs of sodium chlorate with 2k cwt of superphosphate, mixing well before distribution. His idea was to treat the small plants of ragwort before they commenced i}h.e new growth. The cost of the treatment was 7s per acre, and he was confident a good “ kill ” had been secured. Another delegate commented that however good the results were from the use of the sodium-superphosphate mixture, better results could be obtained by the use of lime instead of super. He claimed that the super counteracted, to an appreciable degree, the effect of the sodium. Appreciative mention was made of the details published recently of the experiments carried out by Mr W. Cayley-Aiexander, of Pio Pio. A further contribution towards solution of tiie problem is the following from Mr Cayley-Aiexander in connection with the statement that Mr John Tatham, of Otorohanga, had been using five parts of lime to one of sodium chlorate. . Mr Cayley-Aiexander wrote: " Hail he read the earlier article detailing the method employed by me he would have saved himself many pounds. 1 have used 1 part of sodium to 20 of lime, and completely eradicated the ragwort within two days. We broadcast the mixture at not less than 5 cwt to the acre over the whole surface. Two men average eight acres in six hours’ clear working. At the present prices —£2 6s 8d per cwt and lime at £1 per ton delivered, our cost per acre works out at 15s Bd. The lime reacts afterwards to super applied later. June and July are the best months to apply the mixture, because you catch then, the last of last year’s seeds just making their appearance. All but three, of my paddocks have been treated with this mixture, and there is no sign of ragwort in them, as many visitors to my_farm can testify. The other three paddocks will be treated before tbe middle of August.- This farm will then be tangible proof of the efficacy ox the treatment, which was also approved by Professor Easterfield, of the Cawfchron Institute, whose letter you were good enough to publish weeks since. The secret of success lies in the mixing. First make a 50-50 mixture —cwt of sodium chlorate and 1 cwt of lime. Spread it out on a concrete floor as thinly as possible. Then roll out all the lumps until the whole mass is of the consistency o the finely-ground lime. Then empty the other 19 cwt of lime into a coneshaped heap and pour out the 2 cw of the 50 per cent mixture on top oi the cone, and then 'mix as when mixing sand and cement but od n very much more thoroughly*. To do it pr perly takes a good Hour, but it is an hour well spent. Active steps a.re being taken to enable farmers to obtain sodium chlorate at net. landed cost, and also to get it carried fre on rail. I hope to be able to report progress on these two matters at an early date. A full account of m treatment appeared in the New Zealand Farmer of 31st July.