THE GRASS GRUB.

Wairarapa Age, Volume XXXII, Issue 10208, 8 April 1911, Page 5

THE GRASS GRUB.

REPORT OF FEILD INSTRUCTORS. The Fields Instructor. South Island, reports as follows on th n of various systems of sowing jrnv-* r -t> th« prevalence of the gras -«ti>l> • I have made careful and extensive inquiries in several districts to ascertain in what rotation the grass-grab becomes most destructive. Opinions differ, but frpm the information obtained and my own ob?<ervntions I am inclined to'believe that it is -"-orst in grass sown out with a whit-i <-r<—>. and is not so prevalent in'grar-. sr.n in autumn. The following is a report by Inspector Scott, Lincoln: — "In connection with gros-p-rub, farmers generally seem to be rf opinion 'that grass sown out with wi»ite crops is more subject to the attack of grub than Avhen it is laid down, say. with a crop of rape. Several of the farmers sneaking on the subject were of opinion that the rotation of crops has very little significance in its relations to the r'tsick of frrasr. by grub. Mv own oninion, formed as a result of observations made during the past few months. \r, that grass sown out with rape is, , during its first year, rarely if ever attacked, and also, that it remains longer free from grub than when the grass has been sown with a white crop. In fact, although many grass paddocks which last year had been sown out with '■"•h'itf! crops have been badly devastated, T have not seen one instance of serious damage by that pest in last year's • grass 1 sown out. with rape. . "On Banks Peninsula the experience has been that whenever the grass had been allowed to remain long, thus preventing the operations of birds, the damage done by . grub was much greater than when the grass had been '.veil grazed down." Inspector Huddlestonj Tiniaru, reports as follows: i "The grub" has done the most damace here to winter wheat, on grass land, and in fields of cow-grass and ryegrass in their second year. "Most of the spring wheat goes in on root ground.'and so far is very little troubled with grab."