MARKED IMPROVEMENT

Waikato Times, Volume 126, Issue 21083, 9 April 1940, Page 4

MARKED IMPROVEMENT

WAIKATO RAGWORT CONTROL NEW LAND TAKEN UP In the Waikato County during the past 12 months, approximately 750 acres of new country had been brought under cultivation, in addition to 1250 acres that were now being efficiently farmed. This had assisted tremendously the measures being taken to combat the ragwort menace, stated the county council overseer, Mr G. G. Winter, in his report to the meeting ot the council today. These areas under cutlivation were not likely to be a menace in the future as in the past. “Improvement in the whole affected area in the county is most marked, and this is evidenced by the abandoned areas being taken up, new areas brought under cultivation and the improvement noticed generally, notwithstanding the most unfavourable season for ragwort eradication,” stated the report. Second Growth Thi» Year

The progress effected in controlling the weed through the assistance rendered by the Department of Agriculture had encouraged, no doubt, many other settlers to develop blqcks of new country and so increase production. The grazing of sheep on ragwort-infested land was an invaluable means of control. This had effectively been Remonstrated often in the Te Miro district. It had been most marked during the year, the report added, that a second definite growth of ragwort plants had taken place since the New Year. This required a visit to several properties for the purpose of cleaning-up. This work was completed in the third week in March.