WHITE BUTTERFLY

Hokitika Guardian, 29 January 1932, Page 6

WHITE BUTTERFLY

CABBAGE CROPS ATTACKED

PEST SPREADING RAP** LY

CHRISTCHURCH, January 28

'“The white butterfly pest which has become apparent in Hawkes Bay of late is spreading rapidly go other parts of ‘Die Dominion,” said Air J. A. Campbell (Director of Horticulture), when speaking at the New Zealand Horticultural Tracies Association Conference yesterday morning. “It is not certain how the butter!*}’ wa s introduced, and no practical cure has been (evolved. The pesti 'Hacks cabbage and ripe crops, and it would riot be practicable for a grower to spray over a large crop. The entomologist at l’alm'erston North is studying thus matter, and he will communicate with, the British Entomological Bureau to see if any natural enemy to the butterfly could be introduced. This would be Die only practical combative mea-

There '.was no knowing how this pest gained ingress to the Dominion, con-

tinued Air Campbell. It could come in on general inerehaiidi.se 'just as easily as oil fruit and produce imports. , Cccllin moth bad been introduced ill a similar manner, and he tlioughl that many

"imported” insects on Dominion plants had spread from grocers’ shops.

"I do mot think the quarancme scheme the conference suggested on Tuesday would be much use in view ol this,” concluded Air Campbell. ‘There are so many loop holes by which disease could get into the country, and it would be futile to quarantine only fruit imports and let merchandise go |j y-”