WORMS IN POTATOES

Wairarapa Age, Volume XXXII, Issue 10161, 10 February 1911, Page 5

WORMS IN POTATOES

the biologist's Report. An Eketahuna settler recently sent to the. Government Biologist three grabs which, he said had eater, through the hanlins of his potatoes. The Biologist has replied:— The specimens sent are the. larvte of one of the native, cutworms belonging to the genus Agrotis. Thero are five .fpecimens occurring in New which Agrotis ypsilon is sf/ifgcojsttjsA&Bb-, and does the largest ;amoiur6 of damage to both field and t garden crops;' The following methods will be found , useful in controlling this class of insect in small gardens :-~ The Poison Method.—This consists of killing off the grubs before' the crops are planted, by strewing over ; the land bunches of fresh clover, cabI bage, or other leaves which have been dipped in a solution of arsenate of lead (lib to 20 gallons of water). The. young grubs in ■search of food greed-; Ily eat these-baits, and are. killed "be- | fore they can do any harm. This .method has given good results, and is well worth a trial where cutworms are likely to prove troublesome. Of, course, care must be taken that fowls, or stock do not get-.at the poisoned leaves. ■•„<■. Using Boards as Traps.—This-meth-od consists of placing boards on the ground in and about the garden, and ' collecting and destroying each morn-! ing the grubs that will congregate be- j r.eath them during the night. ' j Digging out the Grubs. —This consists of digging out the grubs that will be found round each affected plant.