92 THE WEEDS OF NEW SOUTH WALES. 



This advice is clear and specific enough. Where it has once seeded it 

 will not be got rid of in a year, and its eradication means more hard 

 work for the farmer, who has quite enough work to do already. (See 

 Agricultural Gazette, 1895, page 308.) 



Where Found. Countries round the Mediterranean Sea, from which it 

 has spread to many warm countries. 



Stinkwort in New South Wales. As will be seen from the accompanying 

 list, the pest has already got a footing in New South Wales, as could have 

 been confidently predicted. I do hope that our farmers will be able to cope 

 with it, as it has been one of the most costly weed-pests to the South 

 Australian farmer. 



In April, 1889, I reported as follows to the Agricultural Society of New 

 South Wales in regard to Stinkwort, specimens of which had been sent over 

 from the Royal Agricultural Society of South Australia : "To none of my 

 correspondents nor myself is the plant known as having been introduced 

 into New South Wales, though that is only a matter of time, probably short. 

 Specimens of an Inula were sent to Sydney last year from southern New 

 South Wales, suspected of doing injury to stock. Except by analogy, 

 nothing is known of its properties here, but I do not for a moment believe 

 that it is poisonous, although such a rank-growing weed, so full of fibre, 

 would be highly indigestible, and the bitter would probably be very palatable 

 to stock, especially to horses. The hyaline sticky resin is probably an 

 interesting substance, common to many composites, but I do not think 

 European chemists have worked at it, while Australian ones certainly have 

 not. Species of Erigeron (cobblers' pegs) are almost as great a curse in 

 parts of New South Wales as this species of Inula appears to be in South 

 Australia, and no practicable plan appears to be known for the eradication 

 of either." 



In the Herald of 28th March, 1890, is the following telegram from Albury. 

 It refers to Stinkwort: "A noxious weed new to this district has been 

 found in the paddocks near Burrumbuttock. It is said to be identical with 

 the weed common in South Australia. It begins to grow in the summer 

 months, has a straight stem, and grows (according to the nature of the soil) 

 from 3 inches or 4 inches to 3 feet and 4 feet high. It is of a nice green 

 colour, has small yellow flowers, and a very strong and nasty smell. It 

 spoils all grazing land, especially for dairy cattle. The milk becomes green, 

 with a very offensive smell, and the butter, after about two days, will give 

 an unbearable smell." 



Mr. G. S. Mackay, Secretary of the Albury Pastures and Stock Board, 

 writes to the Department under date of 15th March, 1894 : " Stinkwort has 

 only lately made its appearance." In the Agricultural Gazette of May, 1895, 

 page 308, Mr. Odewahn, of Walla Walla, near Albury, reports it (the word 

 Inula is spelt Mula through a typographical error). 



It has made up for lost time since then. Up to June, 1919, the Stinkwort 

 had been proclaimed by thirty-four shires and twelve municipalities, 

 making forty-six in all, and to-day it is well advanced in the list of New 

 South Wales weed-pests. Following is the list, furnished by the Local 

 Government Department, of shires and municipalities that have pro- 

 claimed the weed 



SHTRES. 



Adjungbilly Boree Coreen Demondrille 



Berrigan Conargo Crookwell Goobang 



Bogan Coolamon Culcairn Goodrabigbee 



