H.B. CROPS FREE OF WINGED PESTS

Hawke's Bay Herald-Tribune, Volume 81, Issue 65, 9 December 1937, Page 4

H.B. CROPS FREE OF WINGED PESTS

Weather Unfavourable T» White Butterflies EFFECTIVE PARASITE Tke season to date has been a beneficial on© for growers of crops, in that eonditions have not been favourable to the white butterfly and diamond-back moth in Hawke's Bay. Though it is admitfced that there is still plenty of time for these to make their appearance in full force, ti o crops, especially those well advanced in growth, will rot be affccted to the same extent as in former years. "I have inspeeted a number of. crops during the past few days in various parts of the district and have not seen any affccted yet by the diamond-back moth," said Mr J. W.( Palmer, Instructor of Agriculture, this morning when questioned regarding the prevalenee of the winged pests. Mr Palmer said it was only occasionally now that a white butterliy was seen in the district, and it was obvious that the parasite introduced to combat this pest was proving effective. No further liberations of the white butterfly para&ite are being made in this district at the present time, he said, as it was considered that sufficient development had taken place for the partsite to seeure control. Concerning the diamond-back moth the Departjnent, as far as he was aware, did not propose to introduce further supplies of the parasite into this district. It will be xecalled that, last season, samples of the parasite was introduced in various parts of the North Island, oue bateh being liberated at Mangatahi. These were more in the nature of an experiment' than steps taken to deflnitely control the pest, and actually this is the position at the present .time.' Fresk supplies of a different type of parasite have been ordered by the Department but in all probability these will be liberated in experimental fields near thc Cawthorn Institute at Nelson.