THE HESSIAN ELY.

Lyttelton Times, Volume CV, Issue 12425, 14 February 1901, Page 6

THE HESSIAN ELY.

• A FRESH OUTBREAK IN NEW ZEA- , ■ j , LAND. : A letter from Mr M. Murphy, editor of .‘the Canterbury Agricultural and Pastoral journal, was a read at,a meetling of, the committee of the Association, held'this afternoon, drawing attention to •the fact that tie’Hessian fly had again appeared 1 amongst wheat crops at Alaste.rton, causing considerable damage. The pest had also appeared some years ago, in . .Otago, and he had good , reasons for stating [that it had been seen in as invested straw had been brought to the Association’s office some three years ago. The fact that it had not been beard of recently was no proof that it did not exist, as the condition necessary for its vigorous development was a moist, warm season. His object in referring to the matter was that farmers might bedashed to keep a watch for it. Its presence was easily detected by the broken and tangled appearance of the straw. The only known preventive was the ■burning of the infested straw, and then cereals should not be grown on the infested ground for at least two years. The Hessian ny was one of the most destructive pests to which wheat was subject. A history of ■ the insect and its natural enemy would be published in the March issue of the Association's .journal. It was resolved that the thanks of the Association should be tendered to Mr Murphy for his letter, and that a copy should he forwarded to the Department of Agriculture. . ' ~