THE WEEDS OF NEW SOUTH WALES. 37 



It is claimed that the salt-water will kill it. While that is so, it has to be 

 remembered that the rivers are frequently fresh for a considerable period in 

 the early autumn, and during flood-time there is ample time and oppor- 

 tunity to have these floating weeds conveyed to fresh-water creeks and 

 lagoons before the river again becomes salt. 



Apart from the effect on navigation, too, there is a direct effect upon the 

 farm supply of water in many cases. On hundreds of farms on our northern 

 rivers the only supply of water for farm stock is obtained from lagoons, 

 creeks, or blind watercourses. When the hyacinth becomes established such 

 water is rendered unfit for drinking purposes. The decomposing plants 

 give off most offensive smells, the water becomes inky black and putrid, and 

 stock will not touch it. Along the banks of Alumny Creek, portion of which 

 runs through the city of Grafton, the odours arising during the summer 

 months are most obnoxious, and whilst no direct sickness may be attributed 

 solely to this cause, at the same time it must be admitted that such a state 

 of things is not conducive to health. 



In times when feed is scarce, dairy cattle are sometimes tempted to reach 

 out into deep water for the green feed the hyacinth offers, and as many as 

 seventy head have been lost in" a district within a comparatively short time, 

 the cows slipping into the streams and being unable to get back. In the 

 rivers or their tributaries, where there are swift-flowing currents, the hya- 

 cinth is not likely to do much damage. Though it may thrive in the still 

 waters found in pockets along their banks, or be prevented from being 

 carried away in the ordinary current by clumps of bushes or fallen trees, it 

 is an easy matter to clear such channels by forcing out the weed with poles 

 in flood time, when the waters would carry them away. 



It is. on the level country, where the waters are confined, as in lagoons or 

 swamps, or the low country, as found 011 the lower portions of the coastal 

 rivers, where the waters are still or move very slowly, that the hyacinth is 

 difficult to eradicate. In some of the channels cut to drain swamp areas, the 

 hyacinth gradually forced its growth against a somewhat sluggish current at 

 the rate of several feet a month. 



The above indicates the importance of the weed to individual farmers and 

 also the methods by which it may be dealt with. The clearing of streams 

 by mechanical means on such a large scale as to enable navigation to be 

 continued or resumed is another matter, but means have latterly been 

 adopted that have been attended with a good deal of success in this direc- 

 tion, though at considerable cost. 



Water hyacinth has been proclaimed noxious in eighteen shires and 

 eight municipalities as follows : 



SHIRES. 



Bellingen Harwood Xambucca Tweed 



Byron Hastings Port Stephens Wallarobba 



Cessnock Kyogle Terania Woodburn. 



Eurobodalla Macleay Tiutenbar 



Gnndurimba Manning Tomki 



MUNICIPALITIES. 



Ballina Coraki Lismore Murwillumbali 



Casino Kempsey Maclean Richmond. 



