RAGWORT CONTROLLED

Waikato Times, Volume 122, Issue 20426, 17 February 1938, Page 11

RAGWORT CONTROLLED

SUCCESS AT TE MIRO WAIKATO COUNTY’S EFFORTS GRAZING DOWN WITH STOCK Definite evidence that the spread ot ragwort in the Waikato County which had threaten*! to become an insuperable problem has now been effectively checked was given to county members yesterday when an inspection was made in the Te Miro district where the weed had established itself so firmly. Thousands of acres which formerly were yellow with flower ■talks are now comparatively free from a weed which has exercised the minds of the farming community so seriously in recent years. Directed by Mr G. G. Winter, noxious weeds inspector for the Waikato County, a definite plan of control has been launched and the success of the work has been remarkable. Liberal application of sodium chlorate and lime has formed the basis of the work but perhaps the u ..test effect lias been obtained by roiitrol with stork. Particularly on the hill country, where sodium application is difficult, wonderful clearances have been made by close nizagrgiwthg xvflj vtDy some cases areas which were thought to be hopeless have been freed of serious infection and many valuable aer**s have been saved for the production of wool and fat lambs. Fencing Problem It has been found that while tho use of sodium acts as a temporary control measure, for really effective eradication it is necessary to graze the ragwort plants down in their early •tage of growth, and in this connection the chief item of expense is not the actual stock but the cost of providing suitable fencing. The inspector has advised settlers with infected pastures to make the necessary subdivisions for intensive grazing, but unfortunately some cannot afford the expense. Where sheep are grazed on ragwort country there is always a tendency for them to suffer poisoning, but II has been established that this is not serious when 9tock is pastured on ragwort during its early stages ot growth. It would appear that the ragwort is only really injurious when It reachet the flowering stage. In any case it is the usual x*ractice to use full-mouth ewes and so avoid ■erlous depredations in young stock. Contrary to the views held in some quarters ewes on this land have a good lambing average and one farmer obtained a hundred per cent lambing in his flocks this year on country which was badly infected with the weed. It was the unanimous opinion among county members at the conclusion of j the tour yesterday that the expmidi- , tore made .* id more than Justi- , fled by the results obtained and that' a very serious problem was rapidly ( being solved. The county en- j ginger, Mr A. A. Woodward, was very hopeful as to the prospect of eradi- j sating the ragwort in many of the worst > parts of the Te Miro area, but acreed that a continuance of the present programme would be necessary for some years.