BLACKBERRY PEST

Sun (Auckland), Volume I, Issue 287, 24 February 1928, Page 9

BLACKBERRY PEST

EXTERMINATION EFFORTS DR. TILLYARD’S ADVICE The fight by scientists against the spread of blackberry in New Zealand was discussed by Dr. R. J. Tillyard prior to his departure for Australia today, to take up his position as Chief Commonwealth Entomologist at Canberra. The research work in this direction was still in the initial stages, he said. It was hoped to find some insect which would attack the blackberry without damaging the related species of raspberry and loganberry. The unfavourable summer in Britain had hindered progress in New Zealand, because even the commonest moths were not obtainable, and much of the research work had recently been carried on with supplies obtained in 1926. Dr. Tillyard issued a word of warning to New Zealanders against St. John’s wort, a poisonous weed which has laid siege to 250,000 acres of the best lands in Victoria. Scattered infestations of this weed occurred in many parts of New Zealand, including the Auckland and Nelson districts, it having found its way into this country in field crop seeds. It had a tremendous seed capacity, one plant producing in a few years enough seed to infect an acre. The particular virulence of the weed lay in its capacity to poison stock, causing skin eruptions. It was easily recognised. The plant grows about 18in. high, and had bright, star-like clusters of yellow flowers. The leaves had oil globules, which gave the appearance of numerous pinpricks. While in Australia Dr. Tillyard will preserve close association with New

Zealand, for he has been retained as adviser on noxious weeds to the council of the Department of Scientific and Industrial Research. He will pay annual visits to the Dominion.