CALIFORNIAN THISTLE.

Wanganui Chronicle, Issue 12881, 12 May 1913, Page 6

CALIFORNIAN THISTLE.

OF INTEREST TO RANGITIKEI

"Bush Farmer" writes as follows: — "At a meeting of farmers in Masterton last Saturday Mr. W. H. Bcetham asked the opinion of Mr. A. H. Cockayne, Government Biologist, Concerning; Californian thistle. Mr.- Cockaynt replied that this -weed was under the jurisdiction of the noxious <weeds inspectors, and another "branch of the Agricultural Department. He would no^ caro to express an opinion 'on the sub,ject, as that opinion might not be quite in accord, with that of the Departmental officers. In conversation with an 'Ago' reporter', Mr. Beetham said the Oalifovnian thistle had come to this country to stay, .and it was a mistake to assume that it was going to be ruinous to pasture lands. He had, when ho last visited the Old Country, visited farmers in Devonshire, where Californian thistle was very plentiful, and nono of them looked upon tho plant as a menace. On tho Continent he found thousands of -acres overrun with the thistle, and pastures were not seriously impaired by it. He did not think that tho farmers 'of New Zealand should be alarmed at the. spread of the thistlo.. I Mr. H. Morrison corroborated the of Mr. Beetham. He said he had not fount! the-.Oalifornian thistle injurious to. his pastures. Mr. Cockayno said ho was prepared to admit that Californian thistle might not have a serious effect upon pastures. Tho pastures would, however, be better without it. Thero was alw-ays a danger of it spreading to agricultural land. "Messrs. Beetham and Morrison are farmers of wide practical knowledge, and tho opinion of Mr. Cockayne, the Government Biologist, that he is prepared to admit that Californian thistle might not have an injurious effect v pastures is most,interesting and satisfactory. 'After many years' experience in bush and agricultural farming," I have comb to the conclusion that the thistle is bad when it gets in with the grass seed on bush land, but on a good sward or hills it gradually -weakens and eventually dies out. In my opinion, thousands of pounds have been wasted in New Zealand on cutting thistles on bush country. About 30 years asro tho same was done -with Scotch thistles, but the Scotchman was too much for thorn. On. flat land used for agriculture Californian thistle is a great nuisance, button hills it does little harm. Cattle eat it" at certain seasons,.and it will die out when tht grass is reasonably thick. It is to be hoped that tho Government will enquiro into this matter now that their leading authority has expressed the opinion that tho thistle on bush land is not a serious menace, with a view to modifying tho regulation as to compulsory cutting, which entails groat and. absolutely useless expenditure on the part of thousands of bush farmers, who have enough'difficulties to contend with without this expense. Under any circumstances the spread cf the thistle o:i b;ish land cannot be stopped. They sprr^rl from tho roots, and cutting the t»p r: n f.itiic. Besides, as pointed out V.i t:u- Government 'Agricultural Ma- ;:::'.: .o'_ cf last -May the regulations as to t.;t'j-i' apply to male plants, which r,:v rojclhv;:;, a:; well as to female] which i;; obviously a wars to of morwy. 11