The Codlin Moth.

Feilding Star, Volume VI, Issue 60, 30 October 1884, Page 2

The Codlin Moth.

A fbw days ago this insect was, com-paratively-speaking, quite unknown to the New Zealand public, now it is as famous as the now forgotten Colorado I beetle, which created, such a furore in England a few years ago. The notoriety which it has now gained- is in a. great measuro undeserved, and the panic legislation, which has led to the prohibition of certain apples shipped from America, said to bring them, being imported, is not a little absurd. A .Christchurch fruiterer has written to the papers, there, stating that he has known the insect, familiarly in New Zealand for 20 years, and the ravages of the creature do not appear to have been anything like so great aselsewhere. It is a curious circumstance that acoiintry suffering from this pest should be able tofswa'mp our local fruit markets. Tf we, take Feilding as a fair example of the capacity t?f colonists to consume rnported, fruit, the amount forwarded !<y foreign growers to the colony must be

something enormous. Wliy we cannot grow enough apples for even home consumption is a matter for wonder. Soil, climate, and in fact every possible or necessary requirement for growing tons upon tons of this most profitable nrtiele are at hand. The prices obtainable all the year round by the retail dealer average 1 five pence per pound. This gives a profit to the grower, pays steamer and railway freight, shipping charges and commission, and a fair profit to the retailer. The p.i"oJa?a_ion .now; iff 'rded to owners of orchards should encourage tbem to direct an amount of attention towards increasing tho number of fruitbearing trees, which this industry has not hitherto been favored with. The Manchester Block can, and has, produced the finest apples ever shown in the colony, and we hope that the codlin moth will prove an indirect incentive to our local gardeners to plant more trees, in order to garner tlie rich harvest which is offered to their hands.