Weed Control in Nursery Beds

New Zealand Journal of Agriculture, Volume 65, Issue 5, 16 November 1942, Page 298

Weed Control in Nursery Beds

VWHEN preparing nursery beds for ’’ the raising of large quantities of seedlings— as would be the case in commercial market-gardening—it often happens that the ground is so thoroughly infested with the seed of numerous fast-growing annual weeds as to seriously militate against success with the sown seed from which a profitable crop is later expected. Probably two of the worst weeds in this respect are spurry and willow-weed, both of which are most prolific seeders and extraordinarily fast growers, especially when compared with the much slower-growing vegetable seeds.

In an attempt to overcome this difficulty, Mr. E. H. Rumming, Overseer, Services Vegetable Project, Rotorua, has had considerable success with the flame-thrower. The ordinary blowlamp has been used for smaller beds. In the accompanying illustration he is shown destroying a wonderfully healthy growth of very young spurry and willow-weed plants prior to the red-beet, which is sown in the beds, breaking through the surface crust. Thus in a couple of days when the beet ultimately made its ap-

pearance, it found itself in practically undisputed possession of the nursery

Moreover, from the management viewpoint the cost of the work was trifling compared with what it would have been had any sort of hand weeding been resorted to. If possible a calm day should be chosen for the work as then the flame can be directed just where desired and for the length of time necessary to ensure a “kill.” The flame requires to be a relatively broad one of reasonably high temperature. Avoid an adjustment that gives a long narrow flame as this is not only next to useless, but may even result in some damage to germinating seeds (useful varieties) just under the surface. Used as described, however, the flame-thrower is safe, fast, efficient, and almost costless.

—C. R. TAYLOR,

Fields

Instructor, Rotorua.