The Hessian Fly.

Wairarapa Daily Times, Volume XV, Issue 4646, 13 February 1894, Page 3

The Hessian Fly.

A supply of puparia of the natural enemy of the Hessian Fly has just arrived to the order of the Department of Agriculture. It came out to Wellington in the cool chamber of Gothic, and. was placed in breeding cages yesterday. As tho tiny flys emerge, they will bo forwarded to the districts where the Hessian fly has attacked the crops. It is well kuown to scientists that a small fly has for many years helped' to keep the' Hessian in cheok in the Marton district, aud the farmers of the Wairarapa will be glad to hear tbata number of" flax seeds", as the puparia of the Hessian fly are called, which were collected recently at Masterton by Mr T. Kirk, of the Department of Agriculture, on account of aom9 peculiarity ho observed, and which he thought indicated the presence of the parasite, have, as expected, yielded not Hessian fly, but its natural onemy, so that, with the help of the recent arrivals from Home, some impression should in a year or so bo mado on the dreaded pest, We (Post) are, however, afraid, judging from the experience of England and other countries, tlut it will bo a great mistake for farmers to rely solely on ; the natural enemy. Tbey should, whore practicable, take the steps advocated in the leaflet issued by the Government last season, namely, burn the straw, stubble, and screenings, deep ploughing, and the growing of oats or roots for a season or two instead of wheat, The Governmentis, however, determined to do all in its power to aid farmers and fruitgrowers by the introduction of natural enemies of injurious insects, but colonists should not trust solely to these; they should help their insect allies by using the most improved mechanical means of thinning the ranks of the pests.