DISEASES OF PEACH TREES.

Waikato Times, Volume XVIII, Issue 1487, 14 January 1882, Page 2

DISEASES OF PEACH TREES.

Mr C, J. W. Barton, of Te Koao, Waipa, writes to the Editor: — "Sir, — I, in common with a number of my neighbours, have long wondered what it was that killed the' peach trees in this district. I have, I think, solved the problem, and as I have not heard of anyone publishing the discovery, I send you the result of my investigations in the hope that the cause being known a remedy will soon be found. In the 1 accompanying pill-box you will find a lot of small catipillars ; these I found in the young leaf-buds of the tree. In the first stages of their existence they are hardly visible to the naked eye, but eventually they obtain the length of a quarter of an inch. In color they are a dark brown, with a hard black head. Continuing my search in the soil under the tree I found a number of small yellow chrysalids embedded in the clods (of which please find sample in aforesaid box), this I imagine to be the next stage of the insect, but ot this lam not positive. Some of your readers may be able to trace its development further into the \ringed state of its existence." % The box referred to, with its contents may be seen at this office.

A German mouse-catcher, who has made Greenwood Cemetery his hunting ground, has trapped and killed within the last five years not less than 25,000 chipmonks, moles and "other animals in that city, of the dead; s ,'i '- »,- The village of She-toasha, near, Wpo- ' zung (China), was swept away by a jre* ' cent ' Of 'three 'hundred- fatiiilies, about one half saved themselves Bytaking, to hastily .constructed raftej^whickt .ultimately reached the district "of" Sheunsha, where the men landed; proceeded to plunder and robiu the most' systematic manner, ' "T* > .