THE WEEDS OF NEW SOUTH WALES. 83 



a drachm of the seeds, which were fortunately immature, were obtained from 

 the motions in one case. All recovered. Dr. P. T. Thane, of Yass, New South 

 Wales, in 1899 (Australian Vertical Gazette, p. o4) records three cases, two 

 fatal. One was a girl of 5 at Yass. There were flushed face and rapid 

 breathing, and later dilated pupils, loss of conjunct! val reflex, tonic spasms of 

 the muscles. ;i temperature of 104-4 degrees, and drowsiness without delirium. 

 The seeds were vomited, passed in the motions, and found post-mortem in the 

 stomach. Another case had occurred at Wagga three years before. The tem- 

 perature rose to 104-6 degrees, and there were coma, clonic spasms, delirium, 

 dilated pupils, and death in fifteen hours. A previous case at Yass, under Drs. 

 English and Doolau, had had delirium, dilated pupils, and a dry skin, but no 

 rise in temperature; recovered. Dr. J. B.. Cleland, in Agricultural Gazette, 

 Tasmania, .\xii, 306, 1914. 



Where it is Found. It is now widely diffused in New South Wales, as is 

 shown by the following information supplied by the Local Government 

 Department in June, 1919, as to the shires and municipalities in which it 

 has been declared to be noxious. 



SHIRKS. 



Cessnock Crookwell Marthaguy 



Cobbora Hume Port Stephens 



Coreen Illabo Wingadee. 



MUNICIPALITIES. 



Aberdeen Braid wood Picton Warren 



Armidale Coonamble Tenterfield Windsor 



Bingara Dubbo Tumut Woollahra 



Botany Kiama Uralla Young. 



Wiser than we, Victoria has long since proclaimed it for the whole State. 



Following are abstracts of some typical reports published by me in the 

 Agricultural Gazette many years ago : 



Pretty well diffused; usually in good land, in the warmer, moister parts of 

 the colony, but, like many other weeds, adapting itself more and more to cir- 

 cumstances. In the valley of the Hunter and other northern rivers it is very 

 abundant. 



As a rule, grows in rich soils, especially cultivated laud, in which it is 

 spreading. No special attempt has been made to eradicate it. Locally called 

 "Devil's Stinkweed." (Emu Plains.) 



An utterly useless weed, with a most unpleasant smell. Mostly frequents 

 the rich river flats and the roadsides, where it grows in countless numbers 

 unchecked. Is kept in check on cultivated land by hoeing annually (Pomona. 

 Wellington.) Erroneously known here and in many other parts of the colony 

 as "Castor Oil Plant," but not to be confused with Ricinu* cnnininnim, the real 

 Castor Oil Plant. 



Spreads rapidly in cultivated land and rich soils, while poor grass lands are 

 almost free from it. No steps have been taken to eradicate it. (Wellington.) 



Found growing throughout the district. (Eglinton, Bathurst.) 



Mostly frequents cultivated land. Introduced with the packing of fruit-trees 

 from the nurserymen. (Manilla.) 



Is rapidly spreading on cultivated lands, and utterly useless. It is locally 

 known as "Oil Plant." (Singleton.) 



