432 Jounwl of Agriculture, Victorid. [10 July, 1917. 



tha presence of these oil glands in its leaves that the plant derives its 

 specific name of perforatum, because when lield against the light, these 

 oil-glands give tlie leaf the appearance of having been pricked or 

 perforated by a needle point. This feature affords one of the most 

 ready means of definitely identifying the plant. 



The Blackberry {liuhiis fniticoms). — This plant is rapidly becoming 

 a very serious pest in most of the southern districts, and chokes every- 

 thing else out of existence, with possilily the exception of St. John's 

 Wort, the flower stems of which can often be noticed standing above 

 the centre of a mass of tangled blackberry. This is an introduction 

 from Europe. Tlie plant itself arises from a perennial root-stock, and 

 soon forms an almost impenetrable mass of bramble, yet affording 

 harbor to vermin of all descriptions. Blackberries are difficult' to get 

 rid of. When old-established masses are to be dealt with fire will often 

 reduce them to an extent to make cutting easier. Two or three cuttings 

 a year with salt applications will destroy the plant if carefully dene, 

 and if the situation is easy of access. After clearin,g away all the 

 surface growth by cutting and burning, the clump of blackberries, if not 

 too large," can be killed right out by covering the spot witli iron, bark or 

 sheets of tarred paper — in fact, anything that will exclude the light 

 completely. Magpies after feeding on this fruit eject the seeds later 

 from the mouth in the form of pellets, tlius distributing the seed over 

 wide areas of country. 



Sweet Brier {l.iosa ruhtyiiiosa). — This is another perennial j>est 

 plant that has taken possession of large areas of country, and is a 

 difficult plant to eradicate. Old plants should be dragged out of the 

 ground after wet weather by means of a horse and chain, and the 

 resultant shoots kept cut closely down, and the roots treated with salt 

 applications. This is another plant the seeds of which are distributed 

 far and wide by means of birds that feed on its fruit. 



Furze (i'le.r euro pa us). — A prickly evergreen shrub, also a peren- 

 nial, and, as its specific name implies, is an introduction from Europe. 

 This is easier to eradicate than most of the perennials. The plant should 

 be dug up before flowering and burnt, and the mass of seedlin,gs that 

 usually spring, up afterwards could be destroyed by spraying them with 

 crude petroleum or kerosene. 



African Bo.xthorn [Li/cium horrid u m) . — This plant has quite taken 

 possession of large areas of land in parts of Victoria, having been 

 largely planted as hedges, and is a great harbour for starlings and 

 spari'ows, and also some troublesome pest insects. The seeds are being 

 distributed broadcast by the agency of several species of birds. This 

 plant should not be allowed to be used for the purposes of hedging, 

 but should be grubbed and burnt. 



Bindweed (Convolvulus errvensis). — A perennial weed that is often 

 very troublesome in orchards and wheat lauds. The Convolvulaceas to 

 which this plant belongs is a very extensive order of plants, mostly 

 consisting of herbaceous and twining shrubs. All the species have in a 

 greater or less degree an acrid juice, which is strongly purgative, and 

 in the species under consideration the roots abound in a milky juice 

 which is highly so. Good cultivation is recommended, followed by 

 raking up and destruction. 



Paterson's Curse {Echiuvi violacevm). — This is a biennial plant, 

 and is a native of Austria. The name Echium is given to this genus 



