Attacking the Prickly Pear.

Hokitika Guardian, 29 April 1921, Page 3

Attacking the Prickly Pear.

WITH FUNGI AND iNSKCTS. SYDNEY, April It)

Some very interesting announcements in regard to the organised fight of the scientists against the prickly pear curse of Queensland and Northern New South Wales were made last week by ,Prolessor Harvey Johnston (Professor of Biology and Scientific Controller attached to the Commonwealth Prickly Pear Board). The professor is just back from America, where he was sent to make arrangements in connexion with the prickly pear fight. The professor said that ho lelt one of his assistants in America and he was now collecting material in Southern Florida, Texas, Southern California and Central Mexico. He was seeking entomological and botanical specimens which -showed a disposition to attack the cactus and these would be sent to Brisbane and carefully tried out. Another officer has been left in the Argentine. and he was making investigations among the foothills of the Andes and he would also visit Uruguay, Paraguay, and Patagonia. Knowledge of the prickly pear was very limited in those countries, hut two definite fungoid enemies of the plant, both very destructive had been found. Associated wit l, these fungnids were certain insects, the operations of which seemed to make the work o'f the fungi more ranid and effective. Experimental work with these fungnids and insects had already been commenced in Queensland.

Tim professor said that he h- 1 Brought also, from England, certain equipment by which it was hoped to carry out a destructive innoeulation of the prickly pear plant. He had high hopes of this process, but it was only in its experimental stage as yet.