543 



(Furze ; gorze ; whin). Indigenous to Europe and 

 Africa. This perennial thorny shrub, almost perpetually decked with 

 yellow flowers, is well known in Australia. It was introduced to 

 form hedges, but has spread extensively and become a great nuisance 

 in many parts. Owing to its formidable character, which protects it 

 against outward attack, together with its enormous production or 

 seeds, it becomes rapidly aggressive and smothers all neighboring 

 vegetation. Birds assist also in distributing the seeds. When kept 

 in check, it makes an impenetrable hedge, but as these are easily 

 ignited, it is in many places prohibited to use the plant for this purpose. 



/vi's*/ /'///) ////<>></ (Sweet briar ; eglantine). Indigenous to Europe 

 and Central Asia. This well-known shrub was originally purposely 

 introduced to form hedges as in Europe. The different conditions 

 of the two countries were, however, not taken into consideration. 

 In Europe, where the lands are mostly under high cultivation, the 

 plant is not allowed to spread. In Australia, on the other hand, the 

 large tracts of uncultivated and partly cultivated lands afforded the 

 plant numerous undisturbed centres. It has consequently spread in 

 many places to an alarming extent, and ruined thousands of acres 

 for pasturage. In New Zealand it is equally aggressive. Birds are 

 mainly instrumental in spreading it. It should on no account be 

 allowed to spread, as it is one of the most difficult plants to eradicate. 



Opuntia I'ltlgnris (Prickly pear). This large cactus is well known 

 throughout Australia. In Western Australia it is found in many 

 gardens and, as far as I know, has not yet escaped on to pasture 

 lands, etc. In New South Wales it is occupying thousands of acres, 

 making the land next to useless for depasturing stock upon, and 

 for a number of years the Government has spent large sums of 

 money on its eradication with only partial success. It is one of the 

 most difficult plants to kill as the smallest parts of it will grow. 

 It flourishes particularly well in dry regions. Attempts have been 

 made to utilise the plant as food by chopping it into bits and in this 

 manner breaking its sharp spines, when stock will eat it for a time. 



Ardium majus (Giant burdock). Indigenous to Europe and 

 Western Asia. A perennial plant with a stout tap-root ; stems 

 stout, many branching, and reaching a height of from two to five 

 feet ; leaves large, entire, and fairly hairy ; the lower sometimes 18 

 inches long and 12 wide ; the flower-heads are terminal and form a 

 dense burr of hooked bristlets ; a large plant often developing several 

 hundred of these containing numerous seeds. I do not think that 

 this plant is eaten by a single animal, at least, this is my European 

 experience. The utter uselessness makes this plant particularly 

 objectionable as it spreads rapidly and smothers every other plant 

 under its large leaves. Few plants exhaust the soil to such an extent 

 as this weed. 



Ardium minus. Similar to the previous, but smaller, and 

 differing in some minutae. This weed is reported from New Zealand 

 by Mr. F. W. Kirk. 



