OUR LETTER BOX.

Gisborne Standard and Cook County Gazette, Volume I, Issue 24, 6 August 1887, Page 4

OUR LETTER BOX.

CTo the Editob.l

TUB FBCrT-6BOWERB‘ ESEMIB3. Sa, —Many people in this district have lately speculated in fruit-trees ; with the intention of orchard planting, but I am sorry to say that they have taken steps in the wrong direction. The first thing that should be the aim uf every fruit-grower is to adopt some means to rid the district of the numerous pests which render fruit culture almost impossible. There are about twelve different kinds of blight which the orchardist has to contend against, e.g., three parasites, apple scale, five horns, codim moth, pyralis, Phylloxera, canker worm, geometra, redspider, white scale, tartrix vastrix, and some of the mildew description of parasites, black lemon taut, ordium tutaro, and beside these imported pests we have many insects, in the way of beetles, but the most destructive of the whole number are the leach and codlin moth. These insects have to be thoroughly kept down or fruit production given up. Now, Sir, some people will not believe that these helpless little workers can do so much harm, and think moreover, that we are free from such annoyances, but I may state that two years ago I found the most of these insects very destructive in this district, and if people want to satisfy their curiosity let them visit Hoseland orchard, Te Arai, and any of the old trees growing in the district and carefully remove the old bark and search closely into the cracks of the trees, and they will find out for themselves that what I state is correct. I had a nice orchard of fruit of all descriptions, and very little profit I got from it owing to this curse. Could not the Legislative Council be induced to pass a law that no fruit from infected orchards shall be allowed to be sent to market. If the owner was careless in keeping his trees free from these pests they should be cut down and oumt, and thus prevent careless people from keeping a depot for supplying the country with these unnecessary evils. It would be well if a committee were formed to see into this matter for if some steps are not taken it will be too late. The Apple Farm Companies in Auckland and Nelson have failed partly owing to the expense of keeping hands employedin trying to rid their orchards of these nuisances, having neglected for many years the ravages of these insects. And now is the time to stop the spread of blight, as the orchards, as yet, are but few and small, and can be well looked after, if stringent measures were adopted by a committee with power to act, it would have the desired effect.—l am, etc. An Old Settler.