CAWTHRON INSTITUTE

Evening Post, Volume CVI, Issue 32, 7 August 1923, Page 10

CAWTHRON INSTITUTE

WAR ON INSECT PESTS

VALUE OF SOIL SURVEY.

Although most people are familiar with the name of the Cawthron Institute, Nelson, it is probable that a comparatively small number realise the importance and far-reaching value to the fanning and fruit-growing community of the scientific research work being carried on there. The activities of this famous institute are not confined to any one particular clas3 of rural industry, but are of a nature that must ultimately prove of inestimable value to agricultural interests throughout the Dominion.

A brief review of some of the most important work undertaken during the last year was given to a "New Zealand Herald" reporter by Professor T. H. Easterfield, Director of the Institute, who passed through Auckland on his way to the Pan-Pacific Scientific Conference to be held in Australia shortly. Very important work had been done, said Professor Easterfield, by Dr. Tillyard, who was in charge of the insect pest department, and whose introduction of the aphelinus, a tiny, wasp-like insect, as the enemy of the woolly aphis, might now be regarded as definitely established. During the past season, about 50,000 of these insects had been distributed to orchardists in all parts of the Dominion, and from every district had come letters of appreciation, with the-statement that the aphis was rapidly disappearing from the trees. _ The professor explained that the aphelinus wages war upon the woolly aphis in a peculiarly deadly and effective manner, the female insect laying each one of its 50 eggs in a separate aphis, which contains exactly the amount of food the aphelinus grub will require up to the time it becomes a winged insect, and sets out on an independent career. "What is - even more important to Auckland friutgrowers," added Professor Easterfield, "is the fact that the aphelinus has been found attacking the black aphis of the lemon tree, and if this pest can be wiped out it will mean a great deal of growers of citrous fruits." THE FUNGOID PESTS. Other insects have been introduced to deal with earwigs, which were very bad in Central Ota^o, also with the mealy bus and the oak-scale in Canterbury. Reference was made by the professor to the work of Dr. Kathleen Curtis, who, since her appointment to the staff of the institute two years ago, had been busily engaged on the life-history and control of a number of fungoid pests. Her investigations had enabled her to give valuable advice to fruit and tomato growers, but most of the work took several years to develop, and could not be made known until it was safe to publish the results without risk of. misleading the fruitgrowers. "It is the policy of the institute not to advocate any line of action until the suggested method of attack has been thoroughly- tested, and attended with success," added the speaker. "We do not care to take the risk of disappointing those whom we wish to help, and only after most careful investigation do we put forward the results of the research work being carried on." . ' SOIL STIvVEY WORK. Another importv.it branch of work mentioned was that of -. the soil-survey department. un-3er Mr. T. Ri^g. During the ".);|S' year > l'al • Piofessor ■Easterfield, this has been extended into the Westland a::-:! Takaka tta'tiicts, and the experimental work to determine the suitability of the- various soils for different classes of crops was enabling good stands of lucerne and other valuable fodder to be raised on land which, two years ago, was considered quite unsuitable for the purpose. Particularly good results had been obtained on the Moutere Hill soil, which in many respects resembled that of the poorer Auckland | districts, and under comparatively simple treatment it had given good yields of tares, lucerne, and oats. About 1000 square miles of land had been surveyed, and it was now possible for the soil-survey expert, simply by examining a map, to tell a farmer what to plant in any given portion of that wide area. The advantages of an extension of the system to the North Island would be of incalculable benefit to struggling farmers, said Professor Easterfield, saving them the hard work, disappointment, and financial loss which they often had to face through not knowing what crops were suited to their land. COOL STORAGE PROBLEM. The problem of cool storage was another matter to which the institute was devoting attention. Mr. N. M'Lelland, who was directing this work, had had a large quantity of fruit 6tored under different experimental conditions, and daily observations were being made in order that data might be obtained, and sound advice given to those in the fruit-growing industry. In speaking of the great advantages to be gained from an extension of research work, Professor Easterfield mentioned the effort recently made to secure from the Government the interest on the £40,000 taken as stamp duty oh the bequest of £240,000 left by the late Mr. Thomas Cawthron. The £2000 per year which this represented would be of very great assistance in furthering .the work of the institute and in view of Mr. Massey's recently avowed sympathy with its activities, the trustees were hopeful that the extra financial assistance would be given as soon as the finances of the country would stand it.