6Q Agricultural Journal of Victoria. 



Suggestions for Checking Its Spread. 



Having- looked at the matter of expense and convenience connected 

 with the means to be adopted for keeping this weed in check, even if 

 we cannot for the time totally extirpate it, I have come to the following 

 conclusions, such as I trust may commend themselves to those having 

 a practical knowledge of the subject. 



Gutting. — This, to prevent seeding, should be done before tiuwering, 

 and in old workings, this could best be performed with a " bush 

 scythe." On land where some machine could be used the process of 

 cutting would of course be more rapid. After cutting, the rubbish 

 should be burned on the spot or as near to it as possible. 



Ploughing. This could only be carried on in fairly level country, 

 although the " Stump Jumper " could be used in many ])laces. The 

 material should be cut and burned before ploughing the land as the 

 roots are uot easily killed. The summer, if sutHcient ploughing 

 strength be available, would be the best time to tackle it, and the more 

 the land could be ploughed, cross-ploughed, harrowed or otherwise 

 knocked about the better. 



Hand-Gruhhing. — This work could be performed by a body of 

 men with grubbing-picks, mattocks, or similar tools, as there are 

 large areas amongst the old workings where hand labour would 

 have to be employed. 



Many are unaware that simply grubbing up the plant Avill not 

 eradicate it, as each piece of root, if left in the ground, will take root 

 and eventually form a new plant. This is a very serious matter, if 

 finality in the matter of permanent eradication could not well be 

 assured. 



8cruh Exterminator)'!. — Where these could be used it would })r(_)bably 

 be the cheapest method of dealing with the weed in places where 

 machines would be out of the question, but as arsenic forms the basis 

 of many of these so called scrub exterminators, it would be unsafe to 

 use them near to the watercourses from which the town and district 

 derives its water supply. 



Some of the scrub exterminators destroy all vegetation, whilst 

 others permit of the grass growing again in a short time and this as 

 well as the probable cost per acre would have to be ascertained by 

 experiment. 



Other Method.s. — When growing between the railway lines, the Rail- 

 way Department might be approached with a view of rendering assistance 

 so far as jurisdiction extended, and contractors making roads through the 

 country might also be induced for some small remuneration to take 

 steps for its destruction at its utmost limits. There is some road- 

 making going on iu the Alps now, and the present opportunity should 

 not be lost. 



I would compel all travelling cattle to keep to the|Grant track, at 

 least until the weed has been cut iu the Bright district, and would 

 prohibit chaff or hay grown on infected areas being taken away from 



