WEED PESTS

Hokitika Guardian, 13 January 1927, Page 4

WEED PESTS

DR TILLYAIiD’S WORK

J M L’O HTA N T 1X A' IvSTICI ATI ON S

ABROAD

NELSON, Jan. 11

I)r li. J. Tillyard, biologist of the •Cawthron Institute, who lias been, on an extended visit to (England, Europe, and America in the interests of scientific research, returned to Nelson this morning. The result of his investigation lias Iteen embodied in a voluminous report, which will be submitted to the Acting Prime .Minister. The main report is confidential, and cannot be disclosed until released bv the Minister. The doctor to-day said that ho was ;it liberty, however, to mention a few points connected with his tour abroad. At the request of the Prime Minister and the High Commissioner, he extended his stay in England by an extra month to attend the Imperial Conference as New Zealand's representative on the Research Committee. Dr Tillyard was the only New Zealand representative on that committee. Dr Tillyard said that his main investigations when abroad proceeded on various lines of entomological ' research. in the shape chiefly of inquiries into the possibilities of the biological control of blackberry and other noxious weeds, and that lie had met with considerable success in discovering insects which attacked blackberry more or less efficiently. He was arranging for their introduction into New Zealand under proper safeguards. an empire scheme.

It very early became apparent to the investigator that such an enormous problem could not he attacked with any hope of solution without a large financial hacking, so there was drawn up and submitted to the Empire Marketing Board a scheme dealing with the question. The problem was of immense importance, because other parts ot the Empire were affected in a similar way to New Zealand. South Africa and Australia wore experiencing a

similar difficulty in respect to growths akin to the noxious weeds of Now Zealand. Those two countries had approved and accepted a scheme put liefore them, and the final result had been an offer liy the Empire Marketing Board of a sum of £3OOO a year for five years, on condition that the New Zealand Government also gave CIOOO a year for five years and the Cawthron Institute did the same. This would mean a grant of £IOOO a. year for five years, or £20,000 in all. This offer. Dr Tillyard further mentioned, was accepted bv all concerned, the outcome being a good workable scheme for the thorough testing of the possibilities of the control of blackberry, gorse and other noxious weeds by means ot their insect enemies.

'Pile scheme, added the doctor, must tie confined to insects, and fungoids must not lie introduced on any account, as the risk in that connection of great damage being done was very serious. Another scheme submitted to the Empire Marketing Board was in the nature of a suggestion that Empire researches into the question of pasture efficiency—New Zealanders are familiar with the recent discussions into the matter of deteriorated pasture*— should be extended to tills Dominion, and tlie Board agreed with the proposal. It offered £2OOO a year for two years on similar conditions to those outlined in connection with the noxious weeds research. The details of both schemes would require fiirthc working. CONTROL OF THE EARWIG.

. Referring to the problem of the control of the earwig. Dr Tillyard mentioned that a considerable advance had been made ill regard to this question. He had, however, brought back with him a large supply of pupnria of a parasitic fly, which attacked the earwig and he was hopeful of getting it acclimatised in New Zealand. A very interesting fact he discovered in England was that this parasitic flv had in its turn a secondary parasitic called the Dibrachys, a little moth that attacked the puparia. This moth was parasitic of the wax moth which did so much damage in beehives. It had therefore been decided that earwigs did the more good and the Dibrachys would have to lie kept out.

Dealing with the (|iiestion of the eradication of gorso, Dr Tillyard said he hud obtained large supplies of an insect which almost entirely prevented gorse from seeding and in England it was at present being successfully used in the solution of the problem and tbe work had also been done in connection with the eradication of other weeds, ragwort. St. John’s wort, which was in particular very bqd in Australia, and foxglove (which threatened to become a very poisonous weed in many parts of tbe Empire). The eradication of c-on-volvulous had also horn studied. It was the opinion of botanists that this plant was going to lie one of the worst pests in the world during tlie next fifty years, and at present no satisfactory solution was in sight. Another large consignment of green lace wings, specially treated for control of aphis blight on various trees, had been brought out. and if it were possible to acclimatise them in New Zealand Dr Tillyard thought that a lot of good w<"tV accrue.

Generally sneaking Dr Tillyard affirmed that, if the present line of modern research in connection with the eradication of weeds referred to were not successful, it would he a had lookout .because- there seemed no oilier way of tackling the problem. Dr Tillyard found institutions in England working on similar lines to the Cawthron Institute. He noticed particularly that the Rothnmsted Experimental Station at Ttnrpondon. near London, had developed immensely during the past six years.

He forgot the tobacco! A backblocks settler in the Ear North, where there are no trains or coaches, makes monthly trips by dtity to the nearest, township tor stores. Ltist time lie discovered on getting home that he had forgotten the month’s supply of tobacso. There was consternation in the camp! The men had rather he had forgotten anything than tint! Nothing daunted the boss, ho harnessed up again next day and started for. the distant township once more for the tobacco. The weed is almost -as necessary as food to the men of the outback. So it is to lots of other men. The great thing is to pick a brand as free from nicotine as possible. .Most of the imported brands are full of it. That's where they differ from our New Zealand-grown tobaccos, which contain so little nicotine that they may be smoked all day. even to excess, without the slightest after effects. They are toasted 'and do not affect the heart or throat. Ask for “Riverhead Gold." mild; ‘‘Navy Cut” (Bulldog). medium; or "Cut Plug No. 10" (Bullshead), full strength.—Advt.