HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY.

Wairarapa Daily Times, Volume XI, Issue 3687, 14 August 1890, Page 2

HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY.

The Collin Moti. A meeting of the Committee of tho Mastertoa Horticultural and Industrial Society was held in tho Office of tjie President last weujug. The minutes of the previous moating were read and confirmed.

It was decided to hold % Spring Show on Wednesday, 20tll November, 1890. The sub-committee appointed to collect all possible data as to the best means of destroying the coffin moth reported as under ; Mr President and Gentlemen— We, your Committee, after an examination and reports and correspondence relating to the codlin moth, beg to lay before you the following conclusions at which we have arrived and suggestions for, dealing with tho pest.

1. The other infected districts of the Colony are in the same position we are, in that noue have adopted any systematic plan. 2. In these infected districts of the Colony the moth is steadily spreading. 3. Spraying tho growing fruit is generally recognised as the most effeotive method for checking the moth, and for securing a reasonable portion of the crop, although opinions vary considerably as to the strength of the mixture to bo used.

4. No district appears to have brought the Codlin Moth Act into force, in fact the existence of such an act does not seem to be generally known. 6. Where the Act has been discussed objection has been raised to bringing it into force—generally bu the grounds that Government inspection would be irksome, and that unfit persons would be employed as Inspectors, 6. We are however, unanimously of opinion that it is only by coercive measures, wisely administered, that apathetio fruit growers will be induced to work on a systematic plan for the general weal, It is obvious.Jthat in dealing with any pest the negligence j of ono will neutralize tho efforts of 1 many.

The following are the suggestions above referred to:—

1. The spraying should be (lone with a cyclone nozzle, with a mixture of Paris green'and water, in the proportion of loa to 15 gallons. 2. The spraying should comraenoe as soon as the fruit is set, befora it changes from the upright position, tip that the spray may fail about the remains of the calix, round which the earliest eggs are deposited, and should be continued at about fortnightly intervals, ceasing sis weeks fe&ro the fruit is to be picked, 3. The spraying however should not be done in wet weather, lost the mixture is washed off again; nor during tho heat of the sun, lest the foliage is injured. - 4. It is advisable not to grow small fruits or vegetables iu such proximity to' the troeg tliat'thev-mixta would fall on .them, (j. Biindjj qf cloth or brown paper should be tied rouud each. tree at a foot from the ground, tightly at the 4op tod loose in h lower folds j

should be examined <\ fortnightly and the larvce destroyed; : ! The bands should bo placed about-.. the middle of November,

- 6... All fruit found to be infected should ut once be either destroyed, fed to pigs or cooked, unless tho follow- ' ing method is adopted :-Plac» fruit in a tub of wator for about boura before putting on oae side for future use. .

7. Professional gardeners be .enoouraged to make the systematic spraying of orchards a part of thoir business at per tree,

8. Trees should be occasionally examined and any loose bark scraped away, as also any loose rubbish in the vicinity of the trees, old raspberry eane3, and other refuge for the larvoe should be destroyed. In conclusion ve would point that using the-bands, keeping ,tbe ' ,"''> trees and their surroundings clean, and gathering and picking up infected fruitonlyrequires a moderate I amount of attention and labor, suclj. as any one Bhould be prepared toV ' expend when owning an orchard, but yet will bo largely conducive to the object in view, and without which the spraying can only be a half- . measure.

We are pleased to have to report that in reply to enquiries directed to various well-known members otVvi. Horticultural Societies and frurrf growers in various districts of. the Colony we have received ample and courteous replies,- . . Arthub J. Bawsos, . Jis. 0. Alpass, ' TaoMAs Dixon.The report wasreceived and adopted. . after considerable discussion and-the meeting adjourned. '