ATTACKING THE PRICKLY PEAR

Evening Post, Volume CI, Issue 102, 30 April 1921, Page 5

ATTACKING THE PRICKLY PEAR

WITH FUNGI AND INSECTS.

(ROB 0?X QW.I CORRIBFONDBNT.)

SYDNEY, 19th April. Some very interesting announcements in rega-rd to the organise^ figh.fr of the scientists against the prickly pear curse of Queensland and Northern New South Wales were made last week by Professor Harvey Johnston (Professor of Biology and Scientific Controller attached to the 'Commonwealth Prickly Pear Board). The professor is just back from America, where he was sent to make arrangements in connection with the prickly pear fights

The professor said that he left one of his assistants in America, and he was now collecting material in Southern Florida, Texas, Southern California, and Central Mexico. He was seeking entomological and botanical specimens which showed a disposition to attack the cactus, and these would be sent to Brisbane and carefully tried out. Another officer had been left in the Argentine, and he was making investigations among the foothills of the Andes, and he would also visit Uruguay, Paraguay, and Patagonia. Knowledge of the prickly pear was very limited in those countries, but two definite fungoid enemies of the plant, both very destructive, had been found. Associated with these fungoids were certain- insects, the operations of which seemed to make the work of the fungi more rapid and effective. Experimental work with these fungoids and insects had already been commenced in Queensland.

The professor said that he had brought also, from England, certain equipment by which.it was hoped to carry out a destructive inoculation of the prickly pear plant. He had high hopes of this pro.cess, but it was only in its experimental stage as yet.