10 Aug., 1918.] Tahloiding of Primary Products. 453 



tances naturally increases its consumption, as it is thus brought within 

 the reach of a large number of people who otherwise would have to 

 do without it. This comment is also applicable to fruit. 



Conclusion. 

 Whilst the time allowed for the address precludes me from dealing 

 with this subject exhaustively or scientifically, I hope sufficient has 

 been stated to show the possibilities and the necessity for the tahloid- 

 ing of primary products. You will have seen what has been accom- 

 plished during recent years, and will xecognise that the war has 

 already done something in the direction of making Australia more re- 

 sourceful and self- supporting. You will also realize, as I do, that 

 each product touched upon, and others which have not been mentioned 

 at all, could easily form the subject of a lengthy discourse by itself. 

 However, if I have simply lifted the screen, so to speak, to enable a 

 glance to be taken of the present position, and the way in which those 

 concerned are endeavouring to meet contingencies as they arise. I 

 shall te satisfied. 



DESTROYING CALIFORNIAN THISTLE. 



A particular method of destroying patches of Californian thistle with 

 straw has been practised by certain farmers in South Canterbury for a 

 number of years past, but does not appear to be so generally known as 

 its merit warrants. Under this system the patch is well covered, in 

 autumn, with straw to a depth of about 1 foot. In spring the thistle 

 comes through the covering in spindly whitish shoots. The straw is 

 then turned with a fork, this operation breaking off the shoots. An 

 alternative, ^and perhaps rather more thorough, plan is to pull the shoots 

 with the hand, gloved. Either method can be repeated as necessary. 

 Patches have often been killed out in one year by this system, but. if 

 necessary, the treatment can be continued for ^another season. The 

 straw in due course rots, and m^akes good manure for the ground. As 

 with all other farm operations, careful attention must be given to 

 manipulating the thistle patches under treatment. Dumping down the 

 straw, and doing little or nothing further is practically waste of time. The 

 principle of the system is not immediate smothering, but inducing a 

 struggling weakly growth which exhausts the plant, the killing process 

 being furthered by the breaking of the shoots. Where straw is not 

 available, feni or other material, such as gorse clippings, might be used 

 for the same purpose. The originator of the method described appears 

 to have been Mr. A. Clelland, now resident in Tim>aru, who completely 

 cleared his farm at Cave of the thistle ten or twelve years ago. It may 

 be added that Mr. 'Clelland had previously tried to destroy the thistle 

 patches by the .application of salt, but with very ill effect on the soil, the 

 land being what is colloquially termed " tarry " limestone country, 

 which sets hard when liberally dosed with salt. — [New Zealand Journal 

 of Agriculture, June, 1918.] 



