DIAMOND-BACKS

Ashburton Guardian, Volume 53, Issue 151, 7 April 1933, Page 7

DIAMOND-BACKS

RAVAGES IN TURNIP CROP. IN NORTH CANTERBURY. (Special to the “Guardian.”) CHRISTCHURCH, This Day. • Due to the long,spell of dry weather and the ravages of the diamond-backed moth, the turnip crops 'in North Canterbury are probably in a worse condition than ever before, in the opinion of Mr R. McGillivray (Field Superintendent in Canterbury for the Department of Agriculture). Mr McGillivray, who returned on Wednesday from a visit to southern districts, said yesterday that there, had been good rains in North Otago, and in the Glenavy-Mofven district, about 30 points or rain haying fallen on April 2. A fairly good fall had also been experienced during the previous week, and this had freshened up the turnip and rape crops; but further north than Waimate, in the South Canterbury district, .the country was still dry, though it was in much better condition than in Mid-Canterbury and North Canterbury. “Ini North Canterbury,” said Mr MeGillivray, “it is probable that the turnip crops have never been in a more deplorable condition than they are in at the present time. The weather has been extremely dry over a long period, and the attacks of the diamond-backed moth have resulted in an almost complete loss of turnip foliaSMr McGillivray mentioned that he had been called out on three different occasions by farmers who said they considered that the damage to the turnips were being done by a white butterfly. In all three cases no white butterfly was to be seen; but' there was an abundance of caterpillars of the diamond-backed moth. The white butterfly was not likely to be a very great pest on the farms; but if it increased very much it would be a serious pest in vegetable gardens, Mr McGillivray said.