WHITE BUTTERFLY.

Manawatu Standard, Volume LV, Issue 246, 14 September 1935, Page 4

WHITE BUTTERFLY.

HOPE FOR RESTRICTION. ■ In the course of an illustration on the value of the mangold as a fodder crop due to its ease of cultivation, non-susceptibilit.v to disease and general hardiness, Mr R. P. Connell, of the Department of Agriculture, Palmerston North, mentioned the white butterfly pest at a meeting of the Feilding branch of the Farmers’ Union, yesterday afternoon. The past season of drought, said the speaker, had revealed what the butterfly could do to rape, chon moellier and kindred crops under conditions which suited it. Very few of these crops lmd been brought to fruition owing to the ravages of the butterfly, but the mangold crops, tho butterfly and the drought notwithstanding, had returned wonderful yields as the Feilding competition and the Boys’ and Girls’ Agricultural Club results bad shown. However, the departmental officer went on. last season’s results as far as the rape and kindred crops were concerned were not to be taken by fanners as a sign that the butterfly had the upper hand. Evidence collected from over a wide area pointed to the fact that the butterfly parasite had definitely established itself and was making inroads into the activities of the butterfly. By this lie did not mean that the latter would be entirely eliminated, but there was every reason to entertain hopes that in the future the white butterfly would not be the serious pest it had promised to be. This had been borne out in Hawke’s Bay, where the butterfly had first established itself and where the parasite had first been liberated. The encouraging results obtained in Hawke’s Bay could be fairly taken as j an assumption that the butterfly | scourge in all parts of New Zealand j would receive a drastic check at the j hands of the parasite. i Mr L. Knight said that last year | he had received as much trouble from 1 the diamond back moth as the white butterfly, and he asked Mr Connell 1 what steps were being taken to check i its activities. i

Replying, Air Connell said very little had been done as regards this pest. A limited vote had been made for work on lines of investigation and a certain amount of research work carried out, but that was all. As regards the ravages of the moth, be said that farmers could expect the same effects from it this year as last if the conditions were the same, but this be did not think was likely to eventuate.