PEST ATTACKS COCKSFOOT

Press, Volume LXXII, Issue 21974, 24 December 1936, Page 4

PEST ATTACKS COCKSFOOT

CONCERN OF PENINSULA GROWERS AGRICULTURAL DEPARTMENT INVESTIGATING Cocksfoot growers, on Banks Peninsula are concerned at the appearance of an inaect pest, thrips, which last year made its appearance in some of the seed paddocks near Little River. This year it has been reported that the insects have appeared in most of the paddocks on the peninsula, and it is considered that unless steps are taken to combat the pest, serious damage will be done to crops in the future. The fields division of the department is at present investigating the life history of the insect in order to find a method of exterminating it. Mr R. McGillivray, fields superintendent to the department, said last night that the insect was a small one generally coloured red. but in some cases black. It is understood that the insect lays its eggs in the ear of the cocksfoot when the seed is maturing, and that the kernel is eaten away by the grubs. A Good Recovery Enquiries from the peninsula last evening show that the rains of the last few weeks resulted in a great improvement in the paddocks closed for seed. The dry spell earlier in the spring left many of the lighter ridges and pastures with very little growth, but the later rains brought away a good growth and these patchy areas were now well grown. The storm of last week, however, bringing with it a fairly severe hailstorm, will probably affect the seed, as it came in the middle of the flowering period. It is generally predicted, however, that the returns will be as good as last year. Last season the big storms of January resulted in a loss of seed, but farmers are confident that, with better harvesting and threshing conditions, the amount of seed will be increased. In addition to the usual paddocks which have been closed for seed, cocksfoot has come away so well with the recent rains that in many instances cow paddocks will be closed up for reaping. Labour Shortage Although it is anticipated that there will again be a shortage of skilled labour, it is reported that because of the smaller areas that are being closed for seed the position will not be acute. Mr T. H. McCombs. member for the district, waited on the Akaroa Cocksfoot Growers' Association earlier in the year and asked that farmers should be circularised asking them to make use of unskilled labour under the Government's Placement Scheme where possible. This has been done and it is anticipated that many of the growers will make use of this labour. Reaping will probably not be commenced until the second week in January as the rains have held up the maturing of the seed, but one grower said last night that several successive hot days would bring on the ripening much auicker than was anticipated. He also stated that a fairly good sample would be obtained from this year's crop.