LEGISLATION 553 



almost insuperable obstacle to the carrying out of the conditions of 

 the Act, chiefly on account of the difficulties of joint ownership. 

 There is a continual outcry about the necessity of eradicating noxious 

 weeds, but the fault does not lie in the law, but in the difficulty of 

 putting it into effect. Section 7 prohibits the sale of: 



(a) Any noxious seeds, except in the case of gorse-seed to be sown 

 for forage or fodder by permission in writing of the local authority, or 

 for the planting of hedges or live fences ; or 



(6) Any grass-seed, or other seed or grain, which has not been 

 thoroughly dressed by means of a seed-cleaning machine or other sufficient 

 process for the purpose of removing all noxious seeds. 



The Schedules of this Act are interesting, as giving some idea of the 

 relative importance or seriousness of the weeds specified. Schedule I 

 includes three plants which are always, and everywhere without 

 exception, to be treated as enemies to be destroyed : 



Blackberry {Rubus fruticosus), 



Canadian or Calif ornian thistle {Cnicus arvensis), 



Sweet-briar {Rosa ruUginosa). 



Schedule II specifies plants which are to be declared noxious weeds 

 in certain restricted areas defined by the local authority : 



Bathurst burr (Xanthium spinosum). 



Broom (Cytisus scoparius), 



Giant burdock (Arctium majus), 



Gorse (Ulex europceus), 



Hakea (Hakea acicularis). 



Ragwort or ragweed (Senecio jacobcea). 



Schedule III specifies noxious seeds, viz., those referred to in Sec- 

 tion 7, — but the Governor may from time to time extend these 

 Schedules II and III, by including other plants than those mentioned, 

 on the recommendation of the Parliamentary Committee known as 

 the Joint Agricultural, Pastoral and Stock Committee: 



Bathburst burr (Xanthium spinosum), 



Blackberry (Rubus fruticosus), 



Broom (Cytisus scoparius), 



Burdock (Arctium, any species). 



Burr clovers (Medicago denticulata and M. maculata), 



Clover dodder (Cuscuta trifolii). 



Dock (Rumex, any species), 



Fat-hen or white goose-foot (Chenopodium album). 



Ox-eye daisy (Chrysanthemum leucanthemum). 



Sweet-briar (Rosa rubiginosa). 



