BLACKBERRY PEST

Sun (Auckland), Volume I, Issue 292, 1 March 1928, Page 11

BLACKBERRY PEST

CAWTHRON INSTITUTE CRITICISED DIRECTOR IN REPLY It is unwise to criticise without expert knowledge, and the Auckland Farming Journal that published an article questioning what it Imagined to be the work of the Cawthron Institute called forth a reply from the director of the institute, Professor J. H. Easterfield, that made it look rather ridiculous. The original article dealt with an insect, with which the Cawthron Institute was supposed to be conducting experiments for the purpose of killing th€» noxious blackberry. This insect was imagined by the writer of the article to attack the tlower clusters of the weed, and thus lessen the number of seeds distributed. The article further stated that, when the Cawthron Institute offered an insect to mutilate the blackberry, eager imagination was apt to exaggerate what was promised. Mutilating the fruit clusters did not destroy the bramble: but it could easily eliminate the valuable raspberry industrv that was established, and he still more valuable loganberry industry that was about to be established. Farmers had recently had expedience of the terrible fireblight, and they should beware of making blackberry forests a harbourage of a blight that would fUln the raspberries and loganberries. If such a blight became laws might Be passed compelling (in default of severe penalites), the cutting of everv acre of blackberry, and the total prevention of flowering. T 1 at would be a much more serious matter for the blackberry owners, far outweighing any benefit that such an insect might give. MOST AMUSING When this article was referred to Professor Easterfield he thought It most amusing. He considered that the writer had been misled by some ingenious and kindly irfformant, who was ignorant of the facts; but skilful at inventing them. *‘E>6 far as is known to us no blackberry experiments are being carried out at insectaries in Wellington. No insects are knowh to the entomologists at the CaWthddfi lnstititte which attack the flower clusters of the blackberry, and my officers would be glad 16 hear of any insects which have developed this habit.” Professor Easterfield efiiphasised the fact that no insects are introduced into the Cawthron Institute without the consent of the Government, and that an undertaking has been given that no insect will be liberated from the insectaries without the consent of the Minister of Internal Affairs. This consent is only given after consultation with the Department of Agriculture and with a special committee appointed by the Board of Scientific and Industrial Research to examine into the whole question. The interests of the fruitgrowers would thus appear to be effectively safeguarded.