2

H.—26

attention, as both scale and blight may be easily extirpated. The codlin-moth has still further increased the injury; while the slug-leech has diminished the yield of pears and plums by a heavy percentage, and is increasing at such a rate that it is now attacking the walnut. The vine is prevented from fruiting by mildew, while canker-worm and other pests are still further reducing the yield of apricot, plum, apple, and small fruits. I was assured that the export of fruit from Nelson ports had been diminished to a great extent, but was unable to procure particulars. Bearing in mind that a large percentage of the fruit-crop of Nelson is produced on small holdings, this diminution of the crop, in some cases, involves a considerable amount of privation. It is stated that many settlers are leaving the district to procure work in other localities. At present I have but little knowledge of the blights of the Wellington, Taranaki, and Hawke's Bay Districts. In the North Island the peach is everywhere decaying, but, notwithstanding the depressing effect produced by the general dying-out of the tree, I believe its vigour may be restored, and. that the most important step in the way of restoration will be found indicated in my report. Apple-scale, so troublesome in the South Island, is almost unknown in some districts in the North; although, from the way in which some native scale-insects are attacking cultivated fruittrees, it will be necessary for growers to be very watchful in order to prevent their trees from becoming badly infested. Boring insects are more frequent in the northern districts than elsewhere; all the ordinary cultivated fruit-trees are attacked, in many cases with fatal results. White-scale (Icerya purchasi) is a serious enemy to the orange-grower, but may be destroyed with the greatest ease and at a trivial cost. The slug-leech is common, and causes serious loss yearly. Foot-rot is of a more dangerous character, and less easy to deal with. The greatest scourge in the North is unquestionably root-fungus, which may be found attacking fruit-trees, forest-trees, hedge-rows, shrubs, and even grasses—from young plants in nursery-rows to trees in full bearing—with the most destructive effects.

RESTRICTIVE MEASURES. The importation of diseased or affected fruits should be strictly prohibited. The orange-scale has been introduced with fruit from Sydney. Apples infested with codlin-moth and the apple-scale are occasionally imported. It forms no real objection to prohibition that an insect or fungus may already be established here, since a change of climate often conduces to increased vigour, and the newcomer increases with greater rapidity than its established congener. It is desirable that imported fruit-trees should be inspected on landing, although there would be great difficulties in carrying out any efficient system of inspection, owing to the number of ports of entry, and the consequent cost of stationing a duly-qualified man at each. The difficulties attending the inspection of affected fruit are but slight; in nearly all cases the presence of the insect may be easily recognized. An officer of the Customs Department at each port might easily acquire such a knowledge of scale or of codlin-moth, for instance, as to be able to recognize affected fruit, and all fruit entered at that port should be examined by him. But the examination of living fruit-trees in order to detect the presence of minute fungi or of insect-ova would require special knowledge and exceptional powers of observation. The introduction of such a fungus as the "black knot," of California (Sphceria morbosa), would be a serious aggravation of the evils under which fruit-growers have to labour; Aphidian insects of subterranean habits, as the currant-aphis, grape-louse, &c, might be introduced on the roots of plants. It is stated that the grape-louse of Australia attacks various kinds of plants ; if this be correct, it might be introduced into the colony any day, although the importation of the vine is strictly prohibited. The appointment of inspectors, with power to order the destruction of any affected trees, has been advocated, but no absolute necessity for such a measure has been made out at present; and with the more general diffusion of information about the diseases of plants it is not probable that such need will arise. The Codlin-Moth Act is strictly permissive, and at present has not been adopted in a single district, although the insect is generally distributed through the colony, and in some localities has materially diminished the annual yield.

PEEVENTION AND EEMEDIES. The climate of New Zealand is exceptionally favourable to the rapid increase and vigorous growth of insects and plants introduced from temperate countries. European insects and weeds, when introduced, flourish with a vigour rarely exhibited in their native country, and increase with greater rapidity. But this is not all: under the new conditions induced by extensive cultivation the foodsupply of many native pests has been increased to an unlimited extent, so that it is no matter for surprise that the grass-grub, lemon-tree-borer, and several species of scale are found in everincreasing numbers, and give good promise of excelling their imported allies in their powers of destruction.