SPREAD OF NOXIOUS WEEDS

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume 73, Issue 81, 5 April 1930, Page 24 (Supplement)

SPREAD OF NOXIOUS WEEDS

MENACE TO FARMS MORE POWER TO INSPECTORS. FINANCIAL AID SOUGHT. A meeting of fanners and representatives of local bodies and others interested in the problem of the control of noxious weeds in Taranaki was held at New Plymouth recently, when, after a full discussion, a resolution was passed urging the Government to give its inspectors full local control, to give these inspectors extra assistance, and to provide farmers with finance to enable ■ hem to deal with the weeds. Mr G. Al. Trotter, president of the Farmers’ Union, said the ragwort business was really nobody’s business, and therefore it was fitting that it should be taken up by the Farmers ’ Union. The calling of the meeting was no reflection on those officers who had the duty of looking after noxious weeds. They did their work as far as lay in their power. It appeared that the cinnabar moth had not fulfilled expectations, and ihereforo something had to be done to attack the problem from some other angle The department was experimenting with chlorate of sodium, one part of sulphate of iron and three parts of salt, sheep dip and benzine. Air A. W. Budge said the law should be amended. A man was taken to Court and fined 10s and costs, which was much cheaper than cutting weeds. Power should be given to th' 1 department to put men on to cut Ihe weeds back. Taranaki was becoming covered with ragwort. Air W. J. Polson said farmers were staggering under a load of rates and taxes and he asked if a further tax would bo imposed to deal with ragwort. There were districts which were fairly clear of ragworl, and these would demand a differential rate. Ho thought that what was necessary was to increase

the number of inspectors and to give them additional power. Inspectors should have legislative authority to spend money on clearing weeds on Crown and abandoned land. Everything should be done, to ensure that the farmer cut his weeds. Under stress of circumstances where weeds had taken control of the farm, the farmer should have financial assistance 1o enable him to clear the weeds. There was immediate need for something to bo done to combat the post. It was decided to request the North Taranaki executive, of the Farmers’ Union to call a conference, of representatives of Taranaki local bodies and others interested, an invitation t.o attend to be extended to those in other ragwort-infested districts. FARMYARD MANURE ARTIFICIAL PRODUCTION The artificial production of farmyard manure has been attracting the interest of investigators lately and the opinion is held by Rothanist(’d authorities that “where straw is plentiful and livestock is unprofitable the process may have a ful uro. ’ ’ Briefly, the method of production is to supply enough nitrogen and phosphatic compounds to straw and other waste cellulose material to enable the micro-organisms which are always present to break down the easily-deconipos-able. organic matter, leaving the more resistant residues in a humified condition. The final product approximates farmyard manure in respect to chemical composition and physical properties. Moisture is essential to this result and a proprietary reagent is obtainable to provide the necessary chemicals. The water has to be applied artificially, although trials have indicated that the judicious use of the winter rainfall will materiallv reduce the need for watering. A machine has been devised for wetting the straw and applying the reagent in a continuous operation at threshing time. The straw enters a chaffcutter of large, capacity adjusted to cut Gin. lengths. The cut straw then passes to an elevator and during its passage is

sprayed with water from any convenient source and is sprinkled with the correct quantity of reagent from a hopper. After treatment the straw is deposited in a stack which is built in the ordinary way, and eventually becomes a mass of artificial farmyard manure. To obtain a satisfactory product, however, it is necessary to add further water from time to time and to turn the heap once when about a month old. The staff required is one man in excess of the usual quota for threshing and building a straw stack.