GOATS AND BLACKBERRY IN PELORUS VALLEY.

New Zealand Journal of Agriculture, Volume XXVIII, Issue 5, 20 May 1924, Page 335

GOATS AND BLACKBERRY IN PELORUS VALLEY.

A letter was received recently by the Department from Mr. A. J. Rush, of Canvastown, Pelorus Valley, Marlborough, intimating that he was successfully controlling ■ the blackberry pest on his farm with goats, and could show paddocks practically clean, and others on which the goats were working or had just been fenced. Mr. Rush's farm has an area of 700 acres, and he keeps 300 goats, both pure and halfbred Angoras. The farm was visited last month by the district Inspector of Stock, Mr. J. G. Scott (Blenheim), who made the following report on the matter in question :-

“ Judging from the present condition of this property, and taking into consideration the fact that until goats were used for the purpose of control all the flat and most of the easy country there was completely in possession of blackberry, it cannot be said that Mr. Rush has overstated the case where he says in his letter, ‘ I have done and am still doing good work with goats.' The position here as regards blackberry cannot be shown better 'than by simply staling the fact that for the past ten years no cutting or —except in the home paddock, where the goats are toe timid to feed —has been carried out, and yet the pest is well under control. As a proof of the latter fact, Mr. Rush is carrying equal to 800 sheep on about 500 acres of pasturage. This is a much higher rate than the average carrying-capacity of the same class of land. .

“ The use of goats, therefore, has released the owner from carrying out the almost continuous work of clearing, which before the present means was employed was found necessary. To many owners of blackberry-infested country this statement may bear the appearance of being too good to be true. But it must always be borne in mind that results such as Mr. Rush has achieved can be effected only by the use of sound methods, and by good judgment in the management of goats through the maintenance in health of these animals and their proper distribution over the various blocks on the farm ; and, last, but not least, by the maintenance of all fences in a goat-proof condition.

“ That goats can be successfully used against blackberry and to the extent of completely obviating the necessity of cutting and clearing it in the ordinary way is no new discovery. By the use of these animals many landowners in the Pelorus have been enabled to keep blackberry under control. Where, however, sufficient judgment and care are not exercised it would be idle for such owners to expect any great measure of success. In their cases the old methods of cutting and clearing will continue to be necessary. “ Mr. Rush strongly holds the opinion that all crossbred goats should receive the same measure of protection as is now accorded to Angoras.”

Noxious Weeds. The Mauriceville County Council has declared gorse and pennyroyal to be noxious weeds within that county. Californian thistle has been declared by the Maniototo and the Vincent County Councils and the Otago Heads Road Board not to be a noxious weed within their respective territories ; ragwort has been similarly dealt with by Vincent County.