Hawke's Bay Herald TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 5,1867.

Hawke's Bay Herald, Volume 11, Issue 824, 5 February 1867, Page 2

Hawke's Bay Herald TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 5, 1867.

The caterpillar has this year committed ravages among the crops which ifc j s not an exaggerated estimate to call a destruction of one third of our agricultural produce for the year. The increase of insect life in this Province is becoming a serious matter. A fewyears ago, and flies of all descriptions were comparatively a trifling anuoyance. Now, slugs, caterpillars, grasshoppers, flies, fleas, and insects of all kinds are fast becoming nuisances which interfere with the progress .of the Province. The grasshopper can be kept down, we know, by the turkey and the pheasant, birds which are becoming common on some of our runs and which we hope to see still further encouraged ; while the slug and the caterpillar, with some of the smaller insects which destroy our fruit gardens, and possibly I the aphis, may be kept down to a great extent by a judicious introduction of small birds. We learn with very great satisfaction that an effort is now being made to carry out thia very laudable object, and. that ifc is proposed to form a society for the purpose of importing birds which prey upon insects without interfering with grain. There are many difficulties attending importations of this kind, but these are greatly reduced by the Panama steamers, which, by

shortening the route, diminish the losses by the way. It will be necessary, doubtless, to keep the birds a short time in confinement here before setting them at large, but the danger only becomes the greater when turned adrift in a country swarming with hawks, owls, cats, and rats. We hope therefore that a crusade may be set on foot at least against the hawks " more-porks," (the worst enemy of the imported small bird) and half wild cats, for unless this is done the establishment of the several breeds of small birds will be a slow

process.

We also trust that our settlers will come forward liberally to support the proposed importations with their subscriptions. As few of the community can be said to be without au interest in this matter, we believe it is intended to make the first subscription a small one, in the hope that most settlers will employ a guinea or two guineas in aiding the good work. Colonel Whitmore has undertaken io collect subscriptions, and both banks will receive any sums which may be offered. For the present, money is nob, required, as it will be necessary to ascertain first, what sum is likely to be raised before undertaking the importation. Ifc is hoped too, that the new/Couucii may inaugurate the session by granting some substantial aid to, private enterprise on behalf of future residents in the Province, who, will derive even more benefits than the present ones. We may further add, that we shall at all times 1)e glad, to receive any communications throwing light upon this subject, and affording any information which may be turned to account by the promoters of the proposal.