THE WIREWORM.

Ashburton Guardian, Volume V, Issue 1566, 24 May 1887, Page 2

THE WIREWORM.

"Farmer" writes as follows to the " Southland Times" :— I think it is high time we sent up an agricultural representative to protect our interests m Parliament. The suggestion Is called for by reading the news published recently that the Government had ordered the dnatruotion of three-quarters of an acre of potatoes at Oporo (I persnme somewhere up North, we are not bo fortunate down here) on account; of their being attacked with wireworm which they (the Government) are pleased to designate a disease, paying the owner £9 as compensation— a very good compensation too. Did ever anyone hear of such downrlghb foolery. Wlreworm is an insest which preys on all plants, particularly wheat, and is found m all land that has lain a long time m pasture, but instead of a ourae (like the rabbits, small birds, etc.) has now proved a blessing ; bo much so, that anyone having potatoes, wheat, or any cerea.l attacked by the disease known as wireworm has only to notify the Government to that effect, and have the crops destroy od, they paying tenfold the value of compensation, I am sure that any farmer reading of the matter will be highly pleased, if not amused, at the eapy way m which they can get rid of their infected crops. Bat putting all joking aside, I think this fa going a little too far. If our money is to be squandered m this way, it is high time the Government were abolished. Until auoh abolition taken place le£ ua send up a practical firmer to see that no more sijch jokes are played on ourM.H.R'B. *