FARM NOTES.

Manawatu Standard, Volume LV, Issue 88, 12 March 1935, Page 5

FARM NOTES.

RAVAGES PESTS. (By "Observer.”) Conolush e evidence that the parasite imported into New Zealand to exterminate the white butterfly is doing its work was given by Mr J, D. Balmer, of Raumai, who took a Standard” representative, the other day, to a field of purple top turmps, where lie was shown a number of white butterflies in the chrysalis stage. In every specimen examined it was found that the parasite had laid its eggs and the cocoon was inhabited by the larvae. An, inspection of another property in the Pohangina Valley, had revealed similar progivss, thus pro ring that the parasites were attacking the pest generally.

As a result of the ravages of the white buterfly and the diamond backed moth, it is stated that there is not a single good, crop of swedes or chou moellier in, the Pohangina Valley. Mr Balmer said that the moth was more destructive than the butterfly, and as yet there is no parasite in operation to combat this. The parasite which deals effectively with the butterfly is ineffective as far as the moth is concerned.

Mr Balmer said that, to introduce a parasite to deal with the moth in, New Zealand, would cost approximately £7OO. When the amount of damage being wrought by the moth is realised £7OO seems trifling. Shown a paddock of four acres which had been sown with swedes and rendered valueless by the ravages of the pests under review, Mi- Balmer was asked what the outlay had been and replied that ploughing, disking, manure and seed had cost £lO. Not only had this money been wasted, but more serious, was the fact that the owner has been deprived of the crop for winter feeding. Due to the ravages of the pests in crops, sheep farmers were unable to get their lambs fattened properly, and lambs were going forward to the works in an unfinished state. The matter of dealing with the diamondbacked moth is an important one and it is hoped that steps .will be taken to import the necessary parasite in the near future. With rape, turnips, swedes, and chou mollier all susceptible to attack by the white butterfly and the moth, there are few supplementary crops which can be successfully grown now, and as tlfese are essential to both sheep and dairy farmers the eradication of the pests is imperative. Fortunately, mangels, which form the chief winter food for dairying herds, are immune from attack, but it is possible that the caterpillar which is playing havoc with lupins, may extend its activities to lucerne, which many farmers rely upon for supplementary feed. IMPROVEMENT IN PRODUCTION.

Dairy herds, which prior to the recent rains were rapidly drying off, are reported to be improving in production. There are, however, some herds on sandy land which have not responded to the better conditions and more plentiful feed, llay will probably bo in good demand this winter and those who have good supplies are fortunate.

RURAL RAKINGS. Two-tooth ewes sold up to 25s Id per head at the supplementary ewe fair in Masterton last week. The present season has been notable for the number of wheat shipments to the North Island. The weather has generally been good for harvesting, and the grain has come forward in good shipping condition. Last season was definitely unfavourable, and the condition of the wheat militated against successful shipping, states a southern exchange. A total of 11,000 parasites, natural enemies of the white butterfly, have been released on the property of Mr G. Benstead, Sclwyn Street, Tinrnru. It is stated that the parasite, whoso name and life history are not known locally, is in appearance a cross between a small thin fly and a beetle. It is very lively and attacks the butterfly in the chrysalis stage. Fruitgrowers at Henderson, and Huapai, near Auckland, are much concerned regarding the receipt of a circular from the secretary of the New Zealand Fruit Export Control Board advising them that owing to the incidence of eodlin moth Auckland Delicious apples will not be accepted for export. The circular states that information has been received that Auckland Delicious apples aro extensively affected with the inoth. Faulty dieting of dams during pregnancy is one factor predisposing lambs to pulpy kidney, contends Mr A. Leslie, Lincoln College veterinarian, in a report submitted in Christchurch recently. The report reviews the relationships between faulty winter feeding of ewes and the susceptibility of their lambs to this disease, and Mr Leslie’s observations are based on experiments carried out at the college with 900 ewes and their offspring. Tho experiments, he says, illustrate the need for greater caro in feeding and management subsequent to lambing.