BLACKBERRY GROWTH CHECKED

Dominion, Volume 23, Issue 56, 29 November 1929, Page 12

BLACKBERRY GROWTH CHECKED

PEST BEING ATTACKED BY INSECT ENCOURAGING REPORTS By Telegraph.—Press Association. Thames, November 28. For some time past observers have noticed where blackberry vines were in small clumps they were not spreading as they had done in former years. This prompted a farmer interested in the pest to closer notice, and the results of his observations have been encouraging. He found that the blackberry was being attacked very vigorously by an insect. Investigations were made on farms on both sides of the Coromandel range. One farmer found that the insect attacks were causing the plants to die. The older leaves were riddled with holes, and th- young shoots were withered and dead. It was observed that the insect was similar to the ladybird, only black. 'On the infected plants, when the leaves were turned over, colonies were found eating vigorously at the old leaves, and also the stems of the plants. Especially was this the case where there were isolated clumps of blackberries. No eggs were found. It is not mown how the insect came, but it will be a boon to farmers if it continues to attack the pest. So far it has not been seen on any other plants. It has been noticed since 1927 that the blackberries that used to run riot over thousands of acres have received a check.