TO THE EDITOR,

Bay of Plenty Times, Volume XV, Issue 2294, 15 June 1888, Page 4

TO THE EDITOR,

Sir, — At a meeting in Mr Home's building last Wednesday morning, called to consider among other things. " The Codlin Moth Act " I pointed out tbe danger the district runs should another insect pest, be introduced here, viz., the Icerya Purchasi, or Oottony-cushion Scale. and I was requested to supply auy information I could to orehardists through your paper. I am confident that if fruit growers knew the amount of damage the Icerya is capable of doing they would wake up and use all means to stop it from baing introduced, and not lock the stable door after the horse was gone, as is the case with the Ofldjin Moth. To show how simply the Icerya mo.y be introduced ; I may mention a ca^e tba£ occurred. I vas at Dr. Beid's in Opotiki, and in talking to him about lemon and Orange culture, I asked him if he was well supplied with insect pests, and he said he was pretty free. We then went round the; garden, and almost the first thing I ! noticed was a small lemon tree covered with Icerya (all the rest being quite free) which was obtained only some | months before from some Auckland nurseryman. I pointed out the dauger,?and believe that he has burnt the tree. This particular insect is so dangerous because it is omniverous, and at present there is no known remedy ; also it will live for years on wattle and other trees, aad then all of a sudden make a descent on the lemon and orange trees, making a clean sweep of them. Whether it will go back to the wattle and other trees after a time, and leave the lemons and oranges alone, I do not kuow, but I think the risk is too great to trust to it doing so. It is a duty of all fruit growers to make themselves acquaiuted with the Icerya, so that they may recognise it at once, and not to be lulled into false security by it, not always attacking tbe Orange and Lemon when it first appears in a neighbouihood. Fruit growers who wish further information should consult "Maskell on scale insects." A copy of which may be seen at the Mechanics' Institute. Maskell says it lives on wattle, pine, orange, lemon, cypress, maize, gorze, grass, and in fact on almost every kind of native and introduced plant, adding a foot note that tree growers should especially beware of this insect, and the best plan to adopt is to burn at once any tree found infected by it. There is also some very useful information in the 3"<?r Zealand Farmer, June number, on the subje-t. 1 would suggest that some one should examine all tbe orchards in tbe dis-

trict to see if we hnxc the pest b<re | already, and if si, 1 am sure tin 1 ! owner would destroy tho infect; I I trees if he bad the case put clear:} ' before him. It is rot a bit of m-o L v. appealing to Government, we miitti be self-reliant and help ourselves. — I■■ j am, &c.' \ | Charles Spencer. ?