THE HESSIAN FLY.

Wairarapa Daily Times, Volume XV, Issue 4331, 31 January 1893, Page 2

THE HESSIAN FLY.

The following letter from Mr T, W. Kirk appears in the last i«sne of ! the Evening Post :-To tin. Editor: Bra-I have read with pleasure the letter that appeared iu last night's issue from Mr Hudson, with whom, however, I am unable to agree on one or two minor points, and, therefore, ask permission to make a few remurks on the subject, Mr Hudson does not approve of the burning (or, iuferentially, of the ploughing in) of stubble, <fcc„ and cites Dr. Paokard as on authority for the belief that it is better to wait nutil the natural enemy can be reared iu sufficient numbers to cure the disease than to adopt for its removal mechanical means. The conditions hero are somewhat different to those which Dr. Packard was probably considering. Here the attack maybe said to be in the initial stage, and if it is possible-and there is reason to believe it isin this early stage to exterminate what threatens to become a real scourge, surely it does not matter ii a few of the natural enemy are destroyed along with the pest. Even if a certain number of the flies escape burning or ploughing in, it is fair to assume that those so escaping are infeeted with the parasite to as great an extent as those destroyed. To rely solely on the natural enemy would only be justifiable if it wero increase ing at a greater rate than the Hessian itself. That the parasites at present in the Colony—and they are found in each infeoted distriot—are not sufficiently numerous to cope with the fly, is shown by the fact that tho pest has very much increased in the Wairarapa, and is steadily spreading. Therefore it seems best to use every means at command to prevent the increase and spread of this dangerous insect. The question of parasites v. burning and ploughing in, was very fully dißCUSsfcd by' Miss Ormerod aud Mr Knock in the English papers some time ago, and though Dr. Packard and Mr Enock prefer to rely solely on breeding the parasitio hymenoptera, Miss Ormerod, who is perhaps the greatest English economic entomologist, and other very competent authorities, urge that if possible the stubble and screenings, k„ should be burned or deeply ploughed in, especially in the earlier stages of the attack. As to the question of the expense, the farmer should consider which will cost him moat—to wait for some seasons until the natural enemy is in sufficient force to destroy the fly, each season losing a considerable percentage of his groin, with no guarantee that the nest will ultimately bo got under, or to spend at onco a little more in burning the stubble, etc., or ploughing it in deeply and sowing o4s or other crops unulktHd by the By, and so ridding himself of the pest. And in arriving at n conclusion he sbuuld bear in mind th«t, in heveral instances nt least, both in the Wairarap. and at Lovell's Flat, the wheit has this year been quite destroyed, The groat thing to be borne in mind is that concerted action by neighbours is abuve all things desirable,