THE FARM.

Northern Advocate, 8 December 1888, Page 3

THE FARM.

MR CRAWFORD'S PARASITE OF ICERYA. Most people interested in horticulture of any kind are aware that Mr Crawford, of Adelaide, sent some scale insects which had been attacked by parasite flies to California, and that from these scales 1 1 flies were hatched, bat that instead of attacking Icerya with which they had been isolated, they failed to do so, and died without reproducing. As ( a great deal of misunderstanding has arisen from what has been reported on this matter, so important to the orange growers of Whangarei, it might not be amiss to explain how the case really stands. When the flies arrived m California it yas the depth of winter, which as Mr Crawford says, might have caused the failure ; but if was very much more likely that, they weidnot the same iiisects that destroy^the Icerya. This scale being very difficult to procure at the time. Mr Crawford sent \iot Icerya, but a native scale " Monophkbus Crawfurdi," whose parasite was supposed to be identical. When the fly was firat found in Icerya specimens were sent to Miss -Arnierod, and proper technical drawings were made from it. It was then fonnd to be of a new genus and a new species hitherto undescribed. Afterwards Mr Crawford thought he had discovered the same parasite in the Monophlebus, but the writer has his authority for saying that he had not these by him, either specimens of the Icerya parasite or proper drawings, and identified it merely from " recollection." Professor Riley caused Dr Willetson to make drawings of the Monophlebus parasite sent to California (which he named Lestophonus Iceryoe) and the writer having been furnished with both drawings, which are now before^him, can confidently affirm tbat they do not represent the same fly. That the* parasite fly of Icerya will exterminate the pest is beyond doubt, the only danger is that its services may be lost to us for ever. The Auckland Horticultural Society wsre offered (gratuitously) a consignment of Mr Crawford's flies (from Icerya) by Mr It. Allan Wight, of the Thames district, who was duly authorized to do so, and it is greatly to be regretted that they did not aceex>t so handsome a present, as the opportunity may now bo lost. Professor Kiley fortunately was alive to the great value of this fly, and when he found those sent him failed,* he at once despatched his assistant Mr Koebell, who is now in Adelaide collecting what specimens are still to bo. had. It is well that no time was lost as only four gardens havo been found in which a very few specimens still remain, and of these hardly one which is free from the parasite. The writer has prevailed upon Mr Crawford to reserve one of the four gardens, and to make another offer of the parasite to Auckland, and he asked the Editor of the N.Z. Farmer to receive the consignment, as a last hope. Mr Koebell intends to spend a month hunting up our Icer3 r a parasite in New Zealand before returning to his own Government, and wo have much to hope from the results of his labour, although I fear our Auckland fruit-growers, and those connected with the trade, do not deserve much assistance. This mail brings a letter of anxious enquiry from Professor Riley ns to the success of the importation of Mr Crawford's flies into Auckland ! "Bough ox PiLps," '.-r Whv suffer Piles 1 Imragdiate Telief and coriiplettrCure gura-ite»*d. Ask -f6r ".Rough ouPikau" Sure cure for itiohing. protruding bleeding, b? any form of PuesF 7

THE NEW PEACH FRUIT WORM OF JAPAN. Titz over watchful heads of the Eulomological Division' of- the United Mates Department of Agriculture have for a 'long time kept an eye upon* the importation's rft Japanese plants -well knowing that, that fertile" country abounds in insect enemies ft? Jroit and foliage. Thelast warning note was- sounded in August last, 1888, and has deference to the larva of a small lcpidoptoi'co& insect which is destroying the peach fruit, •Th'o" insetft is as yet undescribfld and irhfigured in eitbe? larval or perfect stage, but it in all probability will be found aklti to the too well known codlin moth. Mr W. G. Hall, art American naturalist, attached to a state expedition to Japan, has repoited to his government the ravages of this worm, and the destmction ai the entire crop of a fruit hitherto* grown in snch immense quantities and to such great perfection. He describes the whole year's crop as riddled by the worm, and so rendered useless before it is ripe. The money loss is immense, and disastrous consequences are apprehended from cholera owing to the fruit being gathered hard and quite unripe, and consumed in the unwholesome state. Mr Coleman, Commissioner of Agriculture, seems to look upon the matter as serious, and is causing strict investigation to be made, with a view (if necessary) to taking steps to prevent the importation of the pest. In the meantime Professor C. Saski (the well-known writer upon the parasites of the silk worm) of the Agricultural and Dendrtilogical College, Tokio, Japan, has been asked to futnish further information, and the writer has begged Professor Riley to keep him informed, as, it. is impossible to ignore the danger of importation to Auckland, and particularly to Whangarei. with a class of plants which are yearly becoming greater favourites in our market.