FOREST RESEARCH COMMITTEE

Hokitika Guardian, 1 September 1930, Page 7

FOREST RESEARCH COMMITTEE

CONTROL OF PESTS. INSECT AND FUNGOID DISEASES. ; The -Forest Biological Research Committee of the Council of Scientific and Industrial Research met recently at Whakarewarewa, Mr C. E. Foweraker, Director of the Canterbury School of Forestry, presiding. It was reported that arrangements for the commencement of the mycological studies into the fungous diseases of exotic trees were progressing satisfactorily. A mycological laboratory, attached to the Plant Research Station, was ready for use.

DANGER TO PLANTATIONS. Tlie committee expressed concern regarding the potential .source of danger to established plantations that was liable to arise from burnt patches of timber. Such places harboured insect and fungoid pests, which would rapidly spread to neighbouring plantations, and it was considered important that the strictest surveillance should be maintained over these areas and that owners of property where burnt stands, particularly of exotic trees, occurred, should have those areas entirely cleared up, It was felt that if the' public generally realised the menace that this constituted to the Dominion’s extensive plantations of exotic trees, all means would be taken to maintain the present stato immunity from serious pests that the Dominion enjoyed. ■lt was decided again to urge upon the Railway Department the desirability of providing effective sparkcatching • devices, •as it was thought that that (source of forest and scrub fires was always of considerable danger. IMPORTED INSECTS.

Th© control of insects imported in overseas shipments of timber was given consideration, and it was stated that imported timber, with bark attached, was a great potential source of danger. The importation of poles, piles, etc., to which bark Was still attached should, if possible, be stopped. It was decided that the problems connected with forest utilisation did not come within the compass of the Biological Committee, and should therefore, be referred ,to the departments concerned, or to a special committee.

The acting-director, Mr A. F. Clark reported that the new Forest Biological Research Station at the Cawthron Institute, Nelson, was completed. The transference of the library—probably the finest entomological library south of the line I —was in progress. Preparation of an index of trees which acted as hosts to various insect pests was being undertaken, ,

THE BARK BEETLE. A detailed report of the hark beetle, hylastes, whose activities in New Zealand conditions had been investigated, showed that the larvae first appeared about June. They commenced boring in a /series of tunnels under . the bark, This species migrated from dead trees to young fresh growing trees, preventing forest lishment. This drew attention to the desirability of allowing the insect no chance to breed in burnt or dead exotic plantations. Full measurers of control had been devised, but it was hope that as the result of the adoption of preventive methods, these would be necessary to only a smalt extent in the very limited districts where the past occurred, Work had commenced upon a study of the life history of spruce aphis to ascertain the • time of year when it was most liable to attack. A study also of insect /species parasitical to the aphis would be commenced in order that' its control might be effected, Distribution of the ladybird, Rhjzohius, which attacked bluegum scale, had been continued, and an investigation into the damage done to sawn rimu by the platypup beetle had been undertaken.

STATE FOREST AREAS. The members of the committee spent two days inspecting the plantations and nurseries of the State Forest Service and of various private companies which were members of the New Zealand Timber Growers Association. This gave members a firsthand knowledge of the biological problems confronting forest interests in the Rotorua district. The vast areas already planted were all showing good growth, enjoying immunity from any serious disease, of either an insect or a fungoid, nature. The committee rev,Used, however, that, in view of the rapid spread of any outbreak of disease that might occur, the areas would require close watching.