IMPORTED PESTS.

Ashburton Guardian, Volume VII, Issue 1778, 28 February 1888, Page 3

IMPORTED PESTS.

It is a thousand pities that the colonisation of new countries cannot be carried on without, at the same time, introducing into those countries many, if not all, of the troubles which afflict older and thickly settled regions. And yet this is to a large extent unavoidable. Rats, mice, and flies accompany the voyageurs uninvitedly, over no matter how wide a stretch of ocean, while all sorts of insects, all of them of species which could well be dispensed with, speedily establish themselves, and thrive and multiply even faster than they do at Home. And the trouble is not confined to English vermin and insects, for we have the codlin moth and now the Hessian fly — both probably from America — to say nothing of almost every weed of every country under the sun . Sorrel may, perhaps, be indigenous, but Cape weed and Californian thistle are certainly importations, and the former of these two has spread from end- to end of the colony, and unless the most vigilant care is exercised the other will certainly do so. Probably no forethought or precaution would have prevented their making their appearance, and all that remains is to do our utmost to prevent such troubles as are accidentally introduced from spreading widely ; but the worst of it is that there are other pests, for the introduction of which we are ourselves entirely to blame — these having been brought here of set purpose. Take the rabbit ior instance. It is matter of history that only a few years ago one Southern runholder gave a champagne spread to celebrate the occasion of the turning loose of a few couples of rabbits, the nucleus of the rabbit warren which was to supply him and his friends with splendid shooting ; and for years m Southland a Provincial Ordinance was m operation under which, anyone guilty of destroying a rabbit was liable to a penalty of twenty pounds. Again, up Flaxbourne way, a particular breed of silver grey rabbits was for a long time strictly preserved, and yet the whole colony knows to its cost that the well-meant efforts of the enthusiasts for sport who established these prolific rodents m the country have ended m nothing less than a national disaster. Their blunder has cost the colony millions, and Acts of Parliament have been passed with a view to setting up a machinery of Boards and Inspectors m the hope of keeping the evil from Spreading — as yet only with partial success. And while we are waiting for the results of scientific experiments, with, a view of determining the feasibility of fighting the multifarious little enemy of the pastoralist by means of some easily communicable disease to which only the rabbit shall be susceptible, surely care should be taken that we do not establish another pest which may, by and by, become |as great a curse as the rabbit has already proved himself. And we confess that we are very much afraid that this will be the case if the proposal to introduce stoats a.nd weasels is persisted m, and would urge that those who are anxious to try what these creatures can do m the way of lighting the rabbit should at least postpone any further attempt to introduce them until the result of the experiments now being made by M. Pasteur and others demonstrates either that science can or cannot provide a complete remedy. In the former case the stoats and weasels will not be wanted, and it will be time enough to have recourse to them when it is shown that there is no other possible alternative. Apropos to the warnings we have frequently given as to the danger of going m for large importations of these creatures, we notice that a correspondent signing with the initials '< B. H: T. W." writes to the " Lyttelton Times" remarking upon the recently telegraphed contretemps m connection with a shipment intended for New Zealand and which had to be landed at Plymouth, owing to no food having been put aboard for them, and coagratulating the colony upon the escape. He goes on to say that these detestable vermin would prove a greater curse to the colony than the rabbit, and that so far from being harmless creatures they will, when hungry, attack horses and men. He gives the following instances as within his own knowledge : —"I know of a case happening near Liphook, m Surrey. A man was returning from a party m the grey morning when he was attacked by a swarm of weasels. The horse plunged and threw him, and while struggling the weasels attacked him and killed him, and the horse had to be shot, being so badly bitten. Another case of my own knowledge : — A boy found a nest of young weasels and killed them, and partly killed the doe, but she escaped. That night the father of the boy hearing screams went to the bedroom. There was his son lying m a pool of blood from the bites of the buck and doe, which had tracked him. The boy never recovered. The father despatched the two animals, and the boy recognised the doe as that which he had partly destroyed." We are inclined to agree with " E. H. T. W." tl\at it is too dangerous a thing to permit of the wholesale importation of such animals, and that it should be forbidden by tha Legislature. The rabbit pest must be fought m some other way, and we believe can be fought successfully without recourse to the aid of such objectionable veiming as weasels and stoats.

The Duchess de Galliera has presented a gift of £1,000,000 Bterling to the Pope.

In the cemetery at Menosha, Ohio, is a tombstone of sixteen tons, cut m the form of a tree, with birds and squirrels lodged m ita branches, and ferns, flowers, an open book, (i nil a scroll of music at tho base.

SANDER and SONS' EUCALYPTI EXTRACT. — Cure of Skin Diseases. Invercargill, N.Z., 3rd o£ July, 1880. Messrs Sander and Sons, Sandhurst,— Gentlemen, — Having suffered from eczema (a skin disease which is very prevalent m this colony) for about nine years, I had consulted numerous medical men hero and m Australia, and had takon arsenio, strychnine, iodide of powsium, etc, internally, and had used preparations of zinc and lead externally. In fact, I had tried all tho remedies known to tho faculty, and what between travelling, doctors', and druggists' bills, had spent & small fortuno, almost, if not wholly, without results, except to injure my constitution. During a recent visit to Hokitika I was recommended to try your Extract Eucalyptus Globulus by a brothor who had experienced great benefit from it m alleviating i very Bevere cold, and no less to my surprise and satisfaction, I found the disease which troubled me so long was conquered, and the skin resumed its normal condition. This was effected ey tho external use of less than two two-ounco boLtles. You are welcome to make any uso you please of this letter, and I subscribe myself — Yours, etc. (Signed), John H. lvEim, Manager Union Bank of Australia Limited.— (Advt.) 5