THE FLAX GRUB.

Manawatu Herald, Volume XXXVII, Issue 1455, 5 October 1915, Page 2

THE FLAX GRUB.

Some time since we directed attention to the fact that Mr Cockayne, Government Biologist, in company with the chief hemp grader, Mr Ferris, visited a flax area in this district to inspect the ravages of the flax grub which, if steps are not taken to check its progress, will in a few years lime so deplete the output of the green blade that an industry, which gives employment to hundreds of men besides being one of our chief exports, will diminish and pass away. The urgent and ini' mediate necessity, therefore, for the Government and all concerned to lake remedial measures is self evident. This pest works rapidly and silently and puts Industrial evils, the rise and fall of the market and other drawbacks completely in the shade. It is going to be a life and death struggle and the grub is fast getting the upper hand. We are informed that so long as the flax swamps remain practically wet the grub cannot make headway, but as soon as the swamps are freed of water the pest increases. It would appear from this that steps must be taken to periodically, flood the swamps. However, the remedy is a matter for experts. All interested in the industry will 'be pleased to know that the member for the district, Mr W. H. Field, is taking the matter up arid the following is a copy ot a letter he forwarded to the Hon, Minister for Agriculture on the subject under date October xst: —

Dear Sir.—ln connection with a question of which I gave notice in the House a day or two ago I now forward yon a clipping from the Manawath published in Foxton, the centre of the flax industry in the Dominion, which points out how serious a menace the flax grub is to the hemp industry of the country. The pest is spreading at an enormous rate and is attacking the plant almost everywhere. Some of my own swamps have been practically free of it until recently, but ray manager now advises me that in some parts of my property every plant is affected by it, and in some cases to such an extent, as to render the whole of the leaves valueless. I have been to some expense in planting flax during recent years, and purposed continuing to do so over comparatively large areas. If, however, there is no effective and comparatively inexpensive remedy for the grub it would seem useless my persevering in the enterprise. Other growers are of course in the same position. I know that Mr Cockayne, Government Biologist, has been assiduously investigating the matter for some time past, but am unaware whether or not he has yet arrived at a solution of the problem. 11 a remedy is available it would be well to publish same as early as possible.