THE GRASS GRUB.

Dominion, Volume 5, Issue 1361, 12 February 1912, Page 10

THE GRASS GRUB.

SCIENTIFIC INVESTIGATIONS; r_ ;_ Professor A. T. V'. Thomas, of Auckland, is at present in Cliristchurch, for the purpose of conducting investigations regarding the grass grub, which has caused a good deal of damage in various parts of the Dominion. Professor Thomas has had some experience of this creature, which is known scientifically as Odonfria Zealaudioa, in Auckland, and he has been commissioned to report upon it by the .Minister for Agriculture.

lie staled in an interview with a Chmtchnrch reporter that tho grub was very troublesome in the Auckland district five years ago, when it committed great ravages in the agricultural districts and also in the gardens. He had experience of it on his own property, where he carried on experiments. The remedies ho tried were collecting the beetles and also a liberal use of tho spray. The spraying was done not on the ground, but on certain plants upon which the beetles were known to feed. A very small quantity of spray, used in that wav, dealt with a largo number of beetles. After that had been done for some time, the grub disappeared. The remedies may not have been solely responsible far the disappearance, but it certainly checked tho'po.-l. Last year the attacks had greatly diminished in force. When he looked for the grubs recenlly in his own grounds, lie could lind only a few. ami when he eommumVatod with agriculturists in the neighbourhood of Auckland cily. he found llial. the grub had o,uitp censed to be a Hibjcct of practical interest.' As a mailer of fact, if had almost died out of that part of New Zealand. The measures adopted, as he had slated, probably were, not responsible lor Ihe result, and it seemed that some natural cause was at work. From those facts, he thought thai; there was reason to hope that the pest would not remain in Canterbury to the same extent as it made its presence felt last year.