CABBAGE, AND GRUB

Evening Post, Volume CXV, Issue 124, 29 May 1933, Page 3

CABBAGE, AND GRUB

SPRING CROPS PERHAPS SAFE

Reviewing the past season in horticulture, Mr. W. C.' Hyde, horticulturist, writing in- tho "New Zealand Journal of Agriculture," refers thus to certain pests:— "The tomato moth, which was the cause- of considerable loss during the 1931 season, was kept well under control this, year, in spite of the fact that the season.was favourable to it. The dreaded bean-wilt disease also was avoided in a very commendable way. "Two or three kinds of caterpillars took advantage of the fmo weather and caused considerable loss where spraying was not done. The greenish-col-oured, caterpillar of Plusia chalcitcs was troublesome on beans, tomatoes, marigolds, etc., showing a very varied taste; and the speckled caterpillar of Mecyna ■ mapralis , did a surprising amount of damage to shrubby plants; but more serious was the loss caused by the dull-green caterpillar of tho 'white butterfly.' In districts where only ono or two specimens were seen the previous season it was very numerous, and a common sight in fine weather, but it seems to have practically .^appeared towards the end of April. "The cabbage crop, to which it is very- partial, may possibly be safe so far as the spring crop is concerned; but the summer and winter crops will only bo grown with difficulty where it is established. However, tho natural parasite has been successfully introduced by the entomologist at tho Plant Research Station, and in a season or two the phenomenal spread of this pest should receive a check."

One-tenth of the policemen of Britain— oi- about /iOOO—arc occupied with trafliccontrol work.