GRASS GRUB RAVAGES

Bay of Plenty Beacon, Volume 1, Issue 26, 19 June 1939, Page 7

GRASS GRUB RAVAGES

O : ASHBURTON COUNTY DAMAGE ABOUT 80,000 ACRES AFFECTED An estimate that about SO, 000 acres, of pasture land in the Aslibmv. "ton County AA 7 ere affected by the grass grub and porina moth was made by Mr G. K. McPherson. instructor of the Fields DiA ision of the Department of Agriculture at Ashburton i in a special report presented -at the annual conference of the Mid- - Canterbury provincial execute ox -the' New Zealand Farmers" Union. Details of investigations carried out during a survey made last Oct. - ober at the request of the executive were giA*en by Mr McPherson. He said samples of pasture Avere taken on more than GO farms representing all parts of the Ashburton County. The classification Avas made in %hree grades, of pastures so badly affected as to require renewal; pastures parti. - ally affected but Avith decreased ■carrying capacity; and pastures slight ly affected but Avith Qarrying capac- . ity little affected. In the first classification there - were 30,000 acres, the second 14 - * 000 acres, and in the third 36 000 •acres. With the grub damaging roots, and the moth the blades of the gras,?, many pastures had to be coin, pletely broken up. I?eaA T y land in the Wakamii, Eiffelton and Metln T en elis, tricts AA-as not seriously aflected, but - on light land at Mitcham Pendarve?, Hinds and Ealing the raA-ages of the pests AA T ere more apparent. NOT EVENLY SPREAD. The report continued that if the tiouble AA r ere evenly spread OA T er th«j ■ county it would not be such a seri- - ovs problem, but individual farms Avere scA*erely affected by the pest. T » some parts Avberc most of tlio farm revenue came from pastures, there-Avere serious losses, Avhile on mixed farms the cropping rotation was upset. Another serious aspect of the trouble was that farmers Avould not manure land affected by the grub, and this decreased productivity Stock had been decreased anel a ccrf tain amount of production, suspended. It was recommended that a special agent to investigate the habits - of pests and .suggest methods *vf 'Combating the trouble be appointed.