CODLIN MOTH.

Hawera & Normanby Star, Volume IX, Issue 1590, 1 April 1887, Page 2

CODLIN MOTH.

To the Editor of the Star. -- Sir,—l was pleased to see by the report of the Manaia Town Board that the members had r.-solved to suppress the spread of the codiin moth within their jurisdiction. Now, I think fruit growers in this district are very slow to apprehend danger. The codiin grub at the present time is being carried about the district by fruit hawkers without the slightest show of any precaution in the matter. It has been a mystery to me why the law is so severe on consignees of imported apples affected by the codliu moth, aud yet so very, lack in allowing the same to be carried without stint or measure from badly affected centres (Auckland and Nelson) to any or all localities that have hitherto been free from the scourge, for sivh it will be, I fear, in a very short time. I was at a neighbor's place three days since, where there were some apple cases left by a fruit hawker. I called the attention of my neighbor to the fact that there was likely to be codiin grubs in the cases, and on our examining one case we found three cocoons, and no doubo would have found more if we had looked the cases over. I think fruit growers and all who are interested iv the subject should insist on all local bodies taking necessary steps in preventing the further introduction and spread of the codiin moth aud grub. In a letter from a nurseryman in Nelson a few days since, he states :—": —" I don't think I have a sound apple in all my lot, all being affected by the codiin moth." Some orchards are altogether given up to tbe pests. I would advise everyone who has the handling of imported apple cases to look for the oooDDns in tbe eor»m«s and crevices of tLe cases, and inside the cocoon will be found a reddish white grub, and if left till spriug will then come out in the moth state. Then their work begins —when the trees are io bloom—by laying one egg on every flower they light on, and as the apples grow so the grub grow aud penetrate the case. When about twothirds grown, the apples in most oases fall to the ground with the worms in them, and are theu ofteu packed in cases and sent to pastures uew—Hawera.—l am, &c, W. Eowe.