BLACKBERRY PEST.

Grey River Argus, 13 January 1928, Page 6

BLACKBERRY PEST.

Natural Enemy Discovered. TESTS BEING MADE AT CAWTHRON INSTITUTE. NELSON, January 12. From time to time, during the progress of the investigations into the problem of blackberry control, which are being carried on under Dr Tillyard, and Mr Tonnoir, at the ’Cawthron Biological Control Station, reports arc received of more or less extensive damage being done by insects or other organisms such as fungi, in various parts of New Zealand. Those are all carefully investigated, but most of them turn out to be disappointing. Recently, however, Mr McGibbs, of Tapawera, drew the Institute’s attention to the destruction of a largo area of blackberry in his district, and sent specimens of it, which were found to bo badly affected by a combination of the large vine scale, and an unknown fungal or bacterial organisation. The latter has not yet been determined, cwiig to the absence of Dr K. M. Curtis from Nelson, on vacation. A visit was paid by Mr Tonnoir to the infected area recently, and it was found that very extensive damage was being done over a considerable area. The infection being confined to an isolated valley, it is not likely to spread much. Naturally, a plentiful supply of infected specimens has been brought back to Nelson, and tests will be arranged on the blackberry under varying conditions of growth, in order to discover how far a combination of insect and fungus is likely to be successful. Those in charge of the specimens state that the public should not expect too much. It may well be, that as in the case of other organisms already present in New Zealand, these new’ enemies of blackberry will only work successfully under very special conditions, and that they cannot’; therefore, be utilised to any large extent in the work of eradication. This notification is only given in order that those interested may know that no effortj is being spared to find a solution of this pressing problem.