THE PUTARURU PRESS. THURSDAY, MARCH 28, 1929. “A WORD TO THE WISE—”

Putaruru Press, Volume VII, Issue 281, 28 March 1929, Page 4

THE PUTARURU PRESS.

THURSDAY, MARCH 28, 1929. “A WORD TO THE WISE—”

'Phone 28 - - - P.O. Box 44 Office - - - - Oxford Place

THE spread of ragwort is a menace that is not confined to the Putaruru district, and various branches of the Farmers’ Union throughout the coun- / try have been soliciting the aid of the 1 Department of Agriculture especially for supplies of the cinnabar moths, which are believed to be the natural enemy of this, pestilent weed. Judging by the requests that have poured into the department for the insects there seems to be an idea abroad that this method of extermination is already an assured success, so that the considered statement of Dr. Miller, chief of the Entomological De-

partment of the Cawthroxi Institute, read at the monthly meeting of the Putaruru branch of the Farmers’ Union, deserves not only the fullest publicity but the earnest consideration of those concerned. Dr. Miller apparently thinks there has been a great deal of premature optimism indulged in, for he points out that the liberation of the insects is purely an experiment, and it has yet to be de-

terinined if the moths will not only kill the ragwort but also plants of ah economic value. For farmers to fail to make the most of the present available methods of checking the weed, in the hope that the moths will, when available, do the work, is a suicidal; policy, and Dr. Miller’s timely words of warning should be heeded by all. It is noted with pleasure that Putaruru farmers are fully alive to this fact. The experiment will be watched with a great deal of interest by not only the farmers but by all who realise that anything that tends to lower or prevent the production of our primary producers also has a corresponding effect on the economic position of the Dominion as a whole. Dr. Miller deserves the commendation of all fpr his timely words of warning. It is up to the farmers to take the hint.