THE GR UB IN PAST URES. (Canterbury Times,
The grass .grub is an old and well vkuown" enemy of farmcra, but it seems to have/lieen unusually industrious this season'. 1 In some parts of the country the^bare patches in the grass paddocks are'so large and numerous as to betoken a vety serious loss, and we are not surprised at the Secretary of the Geraldiuc Flat Farmers' Club, seeking for information as to the nature of tins underground enemy, and the means by which it may be exterminated. Unfortunately, cheap, and sure methods of destroying fanners' insectivorous foes are not easily obtainable, and as a rule, at tho present Btage of scientific and agricultural knowledge, all that can be done is to avoid the conditionsfavourable for their production. Of late years much enquiry has been devoted to insectivorous pests in England and America, and some substantial results have been obtained in the way of discovering their origin and habits, but no certain specific has been discovered for any one of them. So far as enquires have gone as yet it appears that the most that farmers can do to protect themselves is to give the various plants that are subject to attack every chance of making a vigorous insistence by proper working and •fertilisation of the soil. It is generally the weakest plants that suffer first, and, so far as our observation goes, it is not in strong luxuriant pastures where the grub does most damage. We are not aware that any careful and ■ systematic observations have been made in regard to that particular grub which does so much damage to the grass in this country. There are a few members of our community who make entomology a study, and who certainly could not do better than bring their knowledge and trained habits of observation to the assistance of farmers. Farmers, however, can do much for themselves. We have strong faith in the benefits to be derived from accumulated experience. It is gratifying to know that farmer's clubs and associations are now pretty general throughout the country, and, in comparison with past years, energetic. The advantages ot combined efforts are beginning to be felt in more ways than one, and when the secretary of a farmer's club writes for information about a pest from which so many fanners are suftering, there is good reason for hoping that something practical will be the result. In matters of this kind the opportunities for observation possessed by any one individual aie generally to limited to admit of reliable deductions being drawn from them. The points to which farmers might profitably devote their attention are the character of the soil in which the grubs are most destructive, the treatment and course of crops to which it has been subjected; the kinds of grass which suffer most, and those which appear capable of resisting the attacks of the grub. The time during which the land has been in pasture when the grub first makes its appearance in a field is also a matter of importance. Bye grass, it is well known, is especially liable to the attack of the grub, but it is well worth enquiry whether any cases have been known in which a young and vigorous pasture has suffered as much as an old and worn out one. Is the grub, after all, a friend in disguise ? Nature often gives the farmer some very valuable hints if he only had the sense to see them. As we have pointed out in previous articles, a large majority of our fanners expect to see their fields clothed with a permanent sward while they deliberately neglect the means by which permanent pasture is to be obtained. They sow shortlived grasses, and arc surprised to find that they die out after a few years, and many ot them exhaust the soil of its chief elements of fertility before a grass seed is sown. Such a thing as re-seed-ing, harrowing in order to break the hard cake on the surface, not to speak of the more elaborate process ot top dressing, are things which rarely occur to the average colonial farmer. And more than this, the grass is generally over-stocked, and too constantly stocked, and it would would be surpiising indeed, if, notwithstanding all this hard usage, the pastures maintained a vigorous existence. As we said just now, it is woith enquhing whether the giu'o may not be a friend in disguise. With the scanty information available, we do not pretend to say that it is an instrument employed by nature for punishing men for the abuse of her gifts. There aic some things in nature in regard to which it is hard to say for what beneficent end they weie designed. When, however, the grub attacks a worn out pasture, it confers a substantial benefit upon the f.n mer. The amount of feed obtained from a worn out plant of grass is so small that the longer it lemains unploughed the more the owner loses. It, tlicrcfoie, the grub comes to the rescue, and exterminates what little vegetation there is which does duty for a pasture, and thus makes cultivation unavoidable, the farmer is a distinct gainer. The grub himself is in fact a most efficient cultivator, and does his work with a thoioughncss that no farm implements can approach. When a grub-eaten patch is examined, it Is found that the soil is worked as fine as flour, and if grass seed is sown 'on the surface it takes readily, and in a short time the rich green colour of these formerly bare patches contrasts vividly with the sickly hue of the surrounding grass. If the grubs would btke a worn out pasture, and work it methodically from end to end, they might he ranked as farmers' benefactors of the first order, but the patchwork system is decidedly objectionable. We hope to i«cei\c finther communication from fai mers on the grub question, and it would be especially valuable to know whether coarse grasses, such as cocksfoot, have in any case been found to suffer eqally m ith the fine ones.
" Timothy BiTXKER,"in the American Agriculturist, says that "brain manure ig about the best thing on the farm, and best place to take in fresh supplies is the average agricultural fair (or shows)." Such institutions, he says, '' help to get fanners out of the ruts,'" and check them from becoming too conservative. Farmers, he thinks, lead a very secluded life, cultivate muscle more than brain, and from being so intent upon their daily task, come to the evening hour too weary to read or think much. By attending the show they have an agreeable change, and see a large number of new things—tools, .seeds, vegetables, fruit, cattle, sheep, swine, &c. as well as new people to talk with. This being so, he is of opinion that "one must be very stupid indeed whose mind is not forced into new channels, and who does not carry away from the show many practical suggestions that will help him in the future. These suggestions are not money,' but in many ways will save money, and help to make money." Amongst the " smart" things attached to the absconding solicitor, Alfred Thompson, the Christchurch Star says -~ one may be instanced, and upon the best ,'r authority. case may,be stated thus :, <7' A sold some land to B, Thompson, being v'-th/bify&pti.,, The transfer-was completed, ■' futfMB f ;pAld up forthwith.' Thompson', m didjno,kjsnd pveftthe.moneyiwith, equal s^pt^mMmpss, -but just before his departure &^£ig}gfei^.jhis.own cheque,^ Thjs on pre»|^^Mp3^d sto be^w^jtbXess.- :,,
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Waikato Times, Volume XIX, Issue 1590, 12 September 1882, Page 4
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1,262THE GRUB IN PASTURES. (Canterbury Times, Waikato Times, Volume XIX, Issue 1590, 12 September 1882, Page 4
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