BLACKBERRY PEST

Hokitika Guardian, 23 February 1926, Page 4

BLACKBERRY PEST

SK.\ HC Ii I'OH INSECT KOK. WELLINGTON. fell. 111. One ol the chief objects id a trip tu America and Kngland iiudiTlaki'ii by Dr !1. .). Tilylynrd. nl lbe Oawtliriin I list it ute. Nelson, i- to di-cover if possible an insect parasite which will destiny the blackberry. Dr Tillyard left Auckhi'iid this week on the Anrangi and iul'iirmed a ciirrcspniident that lie believes the method ol attack on the serious pest which lie is planning inis a fair chance id success, judged hv the highly encouraging results uf similar research for the purpose of destroying the pickle pear, which is an even worse evil m Australia. The New Zealand (bivorumenl lias a standing reward id' £IO,OOO lor the discovery of an economical method of destroying blackberries.

Though Now Zealand is prepared to pay so handsome a reward to .secure the elimination of the blackberry. American and Canadian hortioii I turn 1isls arc seeking the aid of entomologists to preserve the blackberry trom cerLain insects which destroy it. I hose are the insects which l)r 'I iilyard would like to secure tor tests on the New Zealand blackberry. Betore these parasites can he liberated in New Zealand they will be tried out. on plants of economic value, and if they simw a preference for them, they will not be used. Dr Tillyard. however, believes that there are parasites which will altack the blackberry without risk to other plants excepting the loganberry and raspberry, which would need to be protected by spraying. In any case, the importance of getting rid of . a noxious weed might outweigh, the l is*t to its allied plants of some economic value.

The teas'll! uhv insect parasites are being sought by Dr Tillyard is that for years all elforts to control the prickly pear in Australia l-.v chemical and mechanic'll means were iadures. linn the scientists commenced to use insects, encouraged by the tact that in Hawaii a very bad weed, the lantaua, had boon completely controlled by the introduction from the States id a buttei'lly and a moth. One insect fed on the buds, and the other ale the seed.-, wii'u the result that in due (nurse ihe lantaua lotted away, and could be ploughed in. It is known ihat thirty dilierenf species ut insects live on the American varieties of cactus. Several were tried in Australia, and the first experiment with the cochineal fly resulted in the destruction of 5000 acres of prickly pear in one year. It is now realised that through the medium of such insects, the prikly pear evil is going u> be beaten. Three kinds of insect parasites ot the blackberry are known, and it is intended to collect supplies, and breed them at the Cawtluon Institute with the object of trying them on the blackberry in N'ew Zealand. They will he shipped to the Dominion during the coming autumn.