THE GRASS GRUB.

Dominion, Volume 4, Issue 1133, 22 May 1911, Page 8

THE GRASS GRUB.

FARMER'S.LOSS JCIOOO. > Extravagant as the statement may apit is nevertheless declared by ■ the "Ashburton Guardian" to be substantially correct—a farmer in one of tho upper districts computes his loss as a result of the destruction wrought by grass grubs this season at over ,61000. The pests have actually devoured close on'loo/1 acres, of newly-laid down grass pasture, which was eown at considerable expense. In consequence of this, the fanner in question has been obliged to disposo, a comparatively large number of breeding ewes, ,as tho 1000 acres of land referred to will be absolutely worthless for feeding purposes until the- spring, a,nd in the meantime it will doubtlessly have to bo reeown. Quito a large number of farmers ;iri various parts of the country have Buffered in a lesser degree. The grub lias worked a good deal of destruction in grass paddocks in different parts of South Canterbury this year, and farmers say that a severe winter is now needed to kill tho pests and sweeten the land.