NOXIOUS WEEDS CONTROL

Manawatu Times, Volume LIII, Issue 6617, 23 May 1928, Page 10

NOXIOUS WEEDS CONTROL

WORK ON SOUND BASIS. Noxious weeds control work has now been placed on a sound basis at Cawthrou Institute, the new insectaries and laboratory being fully utilised, according to a, report received by the secretary of the New Zealand Fanners' Union from tho Department of Scientific Research. "Success has been attained in regard to a moth, tyria jacobaeae, which vigorously attacks ragwort" states the report, “and a partial authority for its release has been recommended. Tho committee in charge has deemed it wise to act along extremely conservative linos before recommending an open permit for tho general release of this insect. The committee anticipates, however, that this ragwort moth will bo released next spring in iragwort infested areas, and. care now is being taken to ensure, that a good supply of pupae will winter over so as to ensure a plentiful supply of moths next season. “The bad seasons prevalent last year in tho northern hemisphere seriously interrupted supplies of useful parasites, particularly those for blackberry and gorsc, and in consequence unavoidable delay has occurred in the progress of this work. However, supplies arc now coming to hand, and in future more reliance will be placed upon Southern Europe, where climatic vagaries arc not so pronounced.