THE WEEDS OF NEW SOUTH WALES. 101 



a certain amount would not be carried away by stock and distributed 

 through the country; but unless the same thing is done by the Queensland 

 Government, on the other side of the river, the expenditure would be of 

 very little use. The balance of money available now should be utilised 

 when the burr is fit to cut next season, and this amount it will be necessary 

 to largely supplement if the pest is to be coped with. I regret to say that 

 both sheep and cattle have already largely distributed it all over this north- 

 western portion of the colony, and I feel sure that unless legislation to cut 

 both the Bathurst and Noogoora burr is at once brought about, the loss 

 .-nstjiined by the colony will be enormous. It is apparent that all commons 

 and stock routes are the growers and distributors of the pests. The 

 Xoogoora-burr comes down from Queensland waters, and unless the Queens- 

 land Government at once takes the matter in hand with New South Wales, 

 it will be useless New South Wales expecting to do any permanent good by 

 cutting, unless by a large annual expenditure." 



Mr. Stock Inspector Kirkpatrick added, in reference to Mr. Gordon's 

 communication : " I agree with Mr. Gordon's recommendations, but would 

 suggest that a few pounds say, 5 or 10 be spent on either cutting or 

 threshing at the plants near to where travelling stock are likely to come 

 in contact with them, and so prevent the seed from being distributed along 

 the stock routes." This, of course, will be done. In Queensland, the pest 

 has, unfortunately, become well established, and the Department is indebted 

 to the Honorable the Minister for Agriculture in Queensland for the fol- 

 lowing report upon it : " The Colonial Botanist, Mr. F. M. Bailey, the 

 author of the article, has received no reports that it can be generally met 

 with in the north, but it has overrun many parts of South Queensland, 

 especially on the coast side of the Main Range, the main cause of dis- 

 tribution, in his opinion, being attributable rather to the dissemination 

 of the burrs by means of stock, to which they stick, than by flood waters, 

 though, of course, the latter have done their part. No systematic attack 

 has yet been made upon this pest, the cost of which would be very great: 

 but, under the powers of the Divisional Boards Act of 1887, clause 177, 

 some Boards have attacked the pest within their boundaries. In such divi- 

 sions where there are unoccupied Crown lands and reserves for the condition 

 of which the Crown is liable, the course usually followed is for the Divi- 

 sional Board to notify this Department that this or that area requires 

 clearing of noxious weeds, and to submit tenders for the cost, with the 

 recommendation of the Board as to which should be accepted. Upon 

 approval of the work and tender, supervision of the contract is carried out 

 by the Board, who, upon completion of the work, certify thereto, and pay- 

 ment is made to the Board by this Department. With regard to reserves, 

 those vested under trustees for certain purposes are, in connection with 

 noxious weeds, treated in the same manner as in the case of private persons, 

 and are cleared at their expense; and such reserves as camping, water, road 

 metal, crossing, gravel, pasturage, quarry, and road reserves that are under 

 the control of the local authorities, are paid for by them, and not by this 

 Department." 



Referring to the statement above in regard to the delayed germination 

 of the seeds of this plant, this is a fact well ascertained, and one which adds 

 to the danger of the plant. Those who are interested in the question are 

 invited to consult an interesting paper by Prof. J. C. Arthur, of Purdue 



