424 DICOTYLEDONS AND CONIFERS 



season, but usually it was possible to burn off the dead thistles, de- 

 stroying enormous quantities of seeds at the same time, when it was 

 found that the roots had penetrated a considerable depth into the 

 sub-soil, opening it up and leaving a large quantity of vegetable 

 matter in it. On reploughing and sowing wheat on such land it was 

 quite common to take 60 bushels or more per acre in the first season. 

 On i4th April, 1864, Mr Macandrew asked the Provincial Secre- 

 tary of Otago (in the Provincial Council) : 



whether or not the Government is aware of the fact that part of the Maori 

 Reserve at the Heads, as well as some of the public lands reserved from 

 sale adjoining thereto, are totally overrun with thistles, and if so, whether 

 the Government purposes to take any steps towards their eradication? 



In reply it was stated that the Government Gardener would make a 

 report. This was brought up at the Council on i3th December, 1865. 

 (It would appear that this report was made by a special committee.) 



After stating that thistles were spreading, the report says: 



In the northern part of the Province, it appears that it (the thistle plague) 

 commenced about six years ago, at the Otepopo Bush and has spread towards 

 Moeraki and along the sea coast northwards; and is now making its way 

 to a distance of more than nine miles inland, generally avoiding the high 

 lands, and following the course of the rivers and all the lowlands. 



To the south it is fast coming down to Waikouaiti from Mt Charles, 

 which is at the bank of the Otepopo, and from the Peninsula it will be in 

 the Taieri in two years if not immediately checked. 



The growth of the Thistle is in some places 5 or 6 ft. high, and as much 

 as ten feet wide, being quite impervious to animals, and densely covering 

 large patches of ground varying from ten to thirty acres in extent. When it 

 is considered that in one patch of ground it commenced with three thistles, 

 and in the short space of three years ten acres have been densely covered, 

 the magnitude of the evil cannot easily be exaggerated 1 . 



The seeds of this thistle are a constant impurity among farm 

 seeds, especially in oats, and all species of Cnicus are included among 

 noxious seeds in the Noxious Weeds Act of 1900. They are also 

 included in the Second Schedule of the Act by Special Gazette Notice 

 of zoth June, 1901. 



The species is abundant in all parts from North Cape to Stewart 

 Island, and ranges up to the snow line. Any bush land that is recently 

 felled and burned is liable to be immediately overrun by this thistle. 



Jas. Drummond states (Jan. 1916) that the plant has died out in 

 the Upper Waitemata. 



1 There is an amusing story current in the far north of the first appearance of 

 this species. A Mr Mclnnes, an old Scotch settler at Kauri hohore, near Whangarei, 

 found one on his farm, and he was so pleased at seeing it, that he took great care 

 of the plant, and prevented it from being injured by either man or beast. No doubt, 

 this was done in many other parts of the country in the very early days of settlement, 

 but few of the instances of such care are recorded. 



