98 



THE WEEDS OF NEW SOUTH WALES. 



SHIRKS continued. 



MUNICIPALITIES. 



It is legislated against by the Commonwealth and all the States. 

 Where Found. It is believed to be a native of Chili, South America, but 

 it has spread to most warm countries of the world. 



Noogoora Burr (Xanthium slrumarium L.). 



If a ship brings small-pox to our shores, the most stringent quarantine 

 regulations are put in force, and the disease is forthwith stamped out; 

 if a suspicious case arises inland, a medical man of much experience is 

 despatched to the district, and the matter is inquired into on the spot at 

 once; but I am sorry to say that as regards weed, fungus, and insect pests, 

 which war against the tiller of the soil or the pastoralist, we have no such 

 ready method of treatment. In the first place, we usually hear of the spread 

 of an unknown weed from some chance correspondent, and then, when it 

 gets so bad that something must be done, the time for arresting its spread 

 has passed. I was talking to Mr. F. M. Bailey, the Government Botanist of 

 Queensland, a few days ago (this was written in 1896) about the pest which 

 forms the subject of this article. He said, " I well remember when 50 would 

 have stamped it out in my colony; now it would take untold wealth to 

 do it." 



