THE GRASS GRUB

Hawke's Bay Tribune, Volume XXII, Issue 175, 9 July 1932, Page 10

THE GRASS GRUB

SWISS EXPERIENCES. METHODS OF EXTERMINATION. Discussing the ravages of the grass grub, Mr A. Schnigker, a farmer of Putaruru, and a native of Switzerland, said that the grass grub in Switzerland was as large as the New Zealand honhou, and was known as the May-chafer. It became such' a pest that the Swiss Government took drastic measures. Each settler was compelled to catch so many gallons of the grub, according to his acreage. These were taken to the “May-chafer king,” a Government official, who gave the settler a receipt. The farmers who did not

catch their quota were fined, and those who caught more were allowed so much per gallon on the excess. The grubs were killed by being placed in boiling water, and were later used for liquid manure. The use of starlings was also encouraged. said Mr Schigker. Each farmer had to supply so many boxes for the birds to nest in, and these had to be renewed yearly. By these means the grub had'been kept in check. Chemical means had been tried, but the cost had been prohibitive, and they were so slow that (hey had been abandoned.