JOTTINGS FOR FARMERS.

Press, Volume LXVII, Issue 14029, 28 April 1911, Page 8

JOTTINGS FOR FARMERS.

Latest enquiries about tho potato grub indicate a fear that in Otago, at any rate, there will be an unprecedented potato famine next season. The pest is at Waikouaiti, the Otago Peninsula, and the Taieri, and no concerted measures are being taken to stop its progress. One farmer who is anxious for a crop nest spring has already bought his seed potatoes and limed them. At tho Malvern A. and P. Association's show yesterday a deputation, consisting of the president, Mr A. Gunn, and members of the Committee, waited upon the Hon. I>. Buddo, Minister for internal Affairs, and ActingMinister for Lauds, and asked for a grant, towards the erection of permanent Show buildings. Tho request was made, seeing that neighbouring associations had been liberally dealt with by tho Government. The Minister replied that tho matter was outside his Department, and ho would pass on tho matter as a recommendation to the Minister for Agriculture. In a potato-growing district like North Otago it should not be necessary (says the "Mail") to import potatoes for local consumption, yet this is what is happening at tho present time, owingto tho wholesale destruction of tho crops by tho potato moth. So badly are the potatoes affected that in many casos the waste necessitated by cutting amounts to 50 per cent., and boarding-house-keepers would sootier pay a littleextra for potatoes from some outeido I clean district that take tho troublo with the locally-grown. Already ono boardinghouse-keeper has placed an order for two tons of southern-grown, i and outsido grown potatoes are being retailed by greengrocers and vegetablo hawkers. Tho following letter has been received from the Director of Fields and Experimental Farms, Department of Agriculture by the Ellesmere A. and P. Association, iri to enquiries mado some time ajgo:—Your enquiry in regard to the best method of dealing with the caterpillar pest in your neighbourhood, has been referred to mc. The troublo is caused by the New Zealand amy worm (melauchra composita), and no practical remedy can bo suggested. Tho following is a copy of a report from this Department's biologist regarding tho matter: —"The summer brood of tho New Zealand amy moth is often present in largo numbers in Canterbury just as the grain is ripening, and does an immense amount of damage. There is really no effective way of coping with tho pest. Fields that arc in danger of being traversed, by swarms of these caterpillars can be protected to a certain extent by ploughing a deep furrow with the perpendicular sido away from tho caterpillars. In general, however, tho caterpillars are not noticed until they havo entered the crop. Spraying the outer portions of the fields and headlands with either Paris Green or Arsenate of Lead, would be, no doubt, effective in checking the advance of the amy moth. This, however, is probably too costly to bo practicable." KAIAPOI. At a special meeting of the Kaiapoi Borough Council on Tuesday, the estimates, totalling £2-121 for the year, were adopted. The chief item of receipts was from rates, £857. The deficiency to be met was £574. Jt was decided to give notice that the same rate as last year, of Is 6Jd in the £1, be levied. Several suggestions havo been made to tho Trustees of the Kaiapoi Park that a grand stand should be erected. They have made enquiries, with the result that it has been ascertained a stand to accommodate about 600 persons would cost about £550. A meeting of the Kaiapoi W.C.T. Union was held on Wednesday, when there was a large attendance of members. Mr Baker, tho delegate to t 1 o convention at Now Plymouth, gave an interesting report, which evoked discussion. Mrs Baker urged the mcmi bers to become subscribers to tho "White Ribbon/ and to always wear their badges. Mr Soulby extended a bcarty welcome to Mrs Hayman, who was present. A resolution of sympathy with Mrs Wylie, in her illness, was passed. It was decided that the next meeting take tho form of a social. The Committee of th© bazaar for enlarging tho Kaiapoi Drill Hall are to be congratulated on the attractive and successful result of their efforts, as shown yesterday. All the stalls were artistically decorated, and the quantity and variety of articles on sale showed how liberally the appeal made bad been responded to. The stalls included the following:—Territorials, Mesdames Papprill, Gates, Conlan, L. Oram, Driscoll and Brierley, Misses Richards, Brierly, Pavitt, Wearing, and McPherson; kitchen stall (furnished by the Brass Band), Mesdames T. Hoskin, C Hoskin, W. Knight and J. Gibson; wood-work, Messrs Bean, Towrell and A. Moore: Hinemoa Hockey Club stall, Musses A. Wells, Ashley, Coffey, Rule, and Mellor; fish-pond, Misses P. and H. Pearce, G. Allen and C. Thornc; produce stall, Messrs A. G. Allen and E. Monkj Ambulance flower stall (arranged as a pot), Misses Cosgrove (2), Bate, Carrodus (2), "White. McGregor, Cnoksley, Fowler, and Mrs Hansen; Christmas Tree, Misses Nnbley, Blackwell, and Papprill; refreshment room, Mesdames A. Pearce and J. Wells; scramble jumble by Military Cadets, and bran tub within a huge snowball by the Scouts. There were a number of side-shows for tests of skill, strength, etc., managed by Captain H. Oram. In the side-room the variety entertainers, headed by Mr C. Hoskhi, bandmaster, and Miss E. Fawcett, provided much amusement. In the absence of tho Hon. D. Buddo, Mr J. H. Blackwell, Mayor, declared the bazaar open. The Minister of Internal Affairs arrived in tho evening, and expressed his congratulations to the committee and stall-holders. The hall was crowded. The Brass Band gave its services. The bazaar will be open to-day and tomorrow.