THE GRASS GRUB.

Dominion, Volume 5, Issue 1342, 20 January 1912, Page 8

THE GRASS GRUB.

AN INTERESTING EXPERIMENT. Littlo has been lienrd of late of the grass grab, which did so much damago amongst the-farms a little while ago, but tho matter was revived at the last meeting of tho - Canterbury A. and I'. Association when a letter was read from a North Canterbury farmer describing certain experiments made ' in connection with tho propagation of the grub. The letter ran ns under:—

"Last August I 'gathered a quantity of slieep dung which had been dropped in a covered cowshed which had not been used for cows for many j;oars. Tho sheep during the winter occasionally sheltered here, and it was also used, to fold up tho sheep when needed for killing. The dnng had got finite hard, so that I broke it np with the back of a spado, and some or it had been broken very fine by tho sheep's feet. I filled this manure into a number of flower-pots, planted oach pot with threo or four tomato plauts, and put them in a frame. In the'course of a fortnight all the plants had got weak and died. I planted fresh ones in tiio saino pots without shifting tho soil and in a week they had died. I continued this till tho beginning of November, and not one plant in a hundred lived. I now turned out the soil from these pots on to a board to examine it. Tho pots contained thousands of grass grubs in tho first stage of their existence, and it was these that had eaten off tho roots of tho tomato plants. Tho soil from somo pots which had had no plants in was just the same. The theory I put forward is that these grubs were hatched out from the dung dropped by the slieep. and that tho dung contained tho when it was dropped. The eggs must havo been taken in by the sheep (is eggs laid by the perfect insect, the brown beetle, on the grass, and passed through the sheop without being affected by tho cliowing of the cud or the process of digestion. AVlion I gathered tho dung it was so dry that it took a lot of water to moisten it. It is very improbable that thi' teetles would go into a covered shed to lav their eggs. There most have l:cen somo'thing in tho manure very beneficial to their growth. From the beginlriiv of August to November 15 they had hatched out and grown to half an inch Ion" whea extended. In their natural shite they are bent like a staple, and if thev continued to grow at tho rato mentioned they would lie ready to change into a beetle about twelve months from hntohing out. I noticed in a paddock which was being ploughed that tho grubs were changing into beetles in Novomber. I'may state'that I placed the (lower pots on tlio refuse from an acetylene gaa plant, so that no insects could get in. Tf dpcided to refer tho comirranaoation to tho entomologist at Lincoln Col- (!>. Hibcntlorf), ana to tho Oovttrnnujnt entomologist.

A great number of cheese factories have Installed the "Victor Cheese Vat," which lias many advantages over tho old stylo Ant-bottomed one. The gentle slope of the bottom from the sides to the centre allows tho whey to drain off readily. Write to-day for particulars and prices to Albert J. Pavton, Registered Plumber, Carterton.-rAdvt.

Chick-Tearing is not only profitable, but a pleasure, whou you feed "A and V." Chick Raiser. It is a completo and properly-blended food for Young Chicks. Obtainablo from all storekeepers.—Advt.