WORMS IN POTATOES.

Hawke's Bay Tribune, Volume I, Issue 65, 27 February 1911, Page 11

WORMS IN POTATOES.

| THE BIOLOGIST’S REPORT.

An Eketaliuna settler recently sent to tho Government Biologist three grubs, which ho said had eaten through the haulins of his potatoes. Th® Biologist has replied:— The specimens sent are the larvae of one of the native cutworms belonging to the genus Agrotis. There are five specimens occurring in New’ Zealand, of which Agrotis ypsilon is the commonest, and does the largest amount of damage to both field and garden crops. The following methods will be found useful in controlling this class of insect in small gardens:— Tlie Poison Method.—This consists of killing off the grubs before the crops are planted, by strewing over the land bunches of iresh clover, cabbage, or other leaves, which have been dipped in a solution of arsenate of lead (lib to 20 gallons of water). The young grubs in search jn food greedily eat these baits, and arc killed before they can do any harm. This method has given good results, and is well worth a trial where cutworms are likely to prove troublesome. Of course, care must be taken that fowls or stock do not get at the poisoned leaves.

i Using Boards as Traps.—This me- | thod consists of placing boards on the ground in and about the garden, ai. : collecting and destroying each morn- : ing tlie grubs that will congregate beneath them during the night. i i — * —— —