THE BORER

Evening Post, Volume CXI, Issue 37, 12 February 1926, Page 2

THE BORER

——♦ A MODERN MENACE ITS ORIGIN AND GROWTH NEED FOR A CAMPAIGN 0? DESTRUCTION. , ' . 1 It is not more than 15 years ago sine* the Lyctus Brunneus. made its first appearance, writes V. B. Trapp in the Melbourne "Argus." Very little attention was then paid to it, and at no supervision has taken place it has now become a menfee. The 6rst wood to be attacked was a hardwood floor'at the Melbourne Hospital. In.those day* we knew but little, with the.result much of this floor was unnecessarily taken up and replaced by a new floor. Had we then had our present knowledge, a kerosene rag rubbed over tho sap would have killed'the borer, but little wore was heard until it appeared in the Centre way, and then only on one floor. It was thought that Australia* hardwoods were the only timbers attacked.- In this instance a most careful examination) was made by the architects, Messrs. H. W. and T. B. Tompkins, Mr. Clements Langford, the contractor, stated that there mi no need for any alarm. After several months of careful examination an ao» count of £36 wa« presented, of whicfc £33 was for the taking ap and relaying of carpets and" linoleum*. Although there were more than; 500,000 ft of timber in the building no more than 50ft had to be replaced. It was found thpt the room i» which the-boger had attacked a Kttle of the s»p . we* occupied by one who was selling' antique English furniture, part of which was afterwards proved to be infested witk the borer. ... IMPORTED SOFTWOOD! ; ■ .;. ._* .; . ATTACKED. ■■; ''' '. There has been, and still iaj a pent*. tent impression .that Australian hardwood is.the one timber to be. attacked. We all know that it is ataeked. but only in the sap., Those interested hare! challenged anyone who could produce a piece of hardwood with the borer in the heart. So far it has not been done. Fortunately, or perhaps unfortunately,l when the borer', attack* the sap of the hardwood, as it cannot penetrate th» heart, it is seen and there if an outcry, whereas a kero*ene iag rubbed over the sap is ail-that is needeid, la almost every instance the borer has made its appearance there is either rattan furniture, or axe or hammer handles from America. Theee are attacked by the bom, which naturally spreads to the hardwood, and if there) is any sap on the hardwood it ia immediately seen. It'is contended by many that rattan, furniture, American axe, pick, or shovel handles should not be imported into Australia, as these arc partly.-the cause of the introduction of : the pest. For year* I haw tried to obtain supervision, bat the Tariou* Qvr--1 ernments have turned a deaf ear. We . all knew that this menace was incrow- ' ing rapidly, but, many .were .foolish , enough to believe-that it would never • attack imported softwoods. Whenever ■the borer appeared in 1 hardwoodj it was : heralded forth. Had *ome precaution been taken in;" the ■ 'isarly stage* we ' should not be in «ueh a bad position as > we are to-day. It i* now unfortunately too true that bpegon. and baltic are being attacked and riddled through and 1 through. ■, ;;,• .;■•■■,•■. ; -i.;,.. ; . , I am by no,raean» an "ajarmistj.' but X say that to-d,e.y,we.are threatened with much damage to many important build- \. ings. , The iliyetus Brunneus has increased rapilly, "and as.'.it cannot at--1 tack the 1 hiialt of 'our hardwood it ha* now ■turned .s£' arten.tidn/lJt«i'>oft^roods, as , well' ajs; ash} shieli*br3y oailc; va'nH *cv- . era? other' timbers.-' Some'actibn should ; ■'■ be'taKcri' ii^me'di'ateiyi v'Tf"TAore'-'hard- » wood;were-usea^tSfrpest'coulo!'nJt only be kept in check, but in all probability eradicated. Should the Government, on ■ the other hand, still turn a deaf ear it ; .may cost mi}ljftjns of pounds before it 1 is stamped out. The United States also '■ lived in a fool's paradise. There was : no supervision, with,the.result that the . hessian fly and cotton' boll have made such rapid progress that it is estimated that the loss in the destruction of wheat and cotton crops in one year in the United States must ...be £50,000,- ---; 000. The pine bliater and other borer*, which were imported, are now destroying their forests. The lost no one earn ■ estimate. It is stated to be about | £100,000,000. per year. Forest afUr forest is being attacked, and i* gradu- [ ally being destroyed. We are drifting ' into the same .position for want of 1 supervision. [ GOVERNMENT SHOULD HELP. s The entomological branch should be ■ Federal- and not State. It i« useless - for one State, to. try to stop the importi ation of these pesta while other. States : do nothing. We are running a grave ' risk not only to buildings, tat alao ts» 1 forests, fruit trees, wheat, cotton, and | all other primary product*, even sheep ' and cattle. It is reported that in a ■ certain building._ihe Oregon and baltic are practically riddled, and rot the J hardwood poets supporting those two , timbers are not in any way affected; ! again proving that hardwood is immune Unfortunately, owing to the neglect of Government, supervision, th* spread of the borer v in softwoods: ' ! and imported hardwood*. It has become most serious. Should no action be taken and should large buildings bo attacked, it may "cost millions before the pest is eradicated. r With" proper ' supervision, the Lyctus Brunneus and many other pests can be stamped out, but not unless ParUament acts promptly. For the last 15 years, Mr. French, the. Government entomologist, haa, to my knowledge, been; carrying on research work, 1 withy. practically no assistance from the .Government, either monetary or otherwise. He should be given a free hand tp; try to stamp out the pest. A man with Mr. French '• knowledge is worth -.his .weight in" gold in Victoria or to the Commonwealth. If it is necessary to spend £100,000 to £200,000, it must be spent. It ia far better to do this now than within a few years have these peats cost Bi two to three million pounds a year. So far as'houses in the country art concerned, I doubt whether the bowr will do much.harm. It is more in too cities. I would strongly urge the Government to supervise the timber being sent to Melbourne from country mills. If sawmillers persistently Bend sap, then their leases should be cancelled. It is hardwood that is going to save ns, and it is only oy drastic action that this can be accomplished; I have never known oregon or baltic, when landed on the wharf, to have any signs of the borer,. I do know that many other timbers, both softwoods and hardwoods, are badly attacked. We all remember that 1 when the starling wu imported, it was for a. special reason. To-day it has changed its habits, is at- , tacking fruit, and has become a pest. It is the same with the Lyetus Brunneus. It was imported'here, and it wt* thought that it would only, attack the sapwood, but we now know there is no timber, except Australian hardwood, that it will not riddle. It is possible, even probable, that it may spread wd . attack the sap of growing tin ber. If ' so, the tree, not having sap, must die. 1 Ato wo not, for want of a little snp- : ervision, running a grave risk of losing i our forests t