BANANAS. MEALY BUG IN PINEAPPLES.

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume XLII, Issue XLII, 13 April 1907, Page 1

BANANAS. MEALY BUG IN PINEAPPLES.

I Says the Melbourne "Argus" of the 4th inst. : — i The fruit fly is largely in evidence in j the consignments of bananas that arrive from Queensland. On Monday and , Tuesday last — for the inspectors en- . gaeed in this work cannot recognise , holidays when a vessel arrives with . possibly affected fruit — two boats from 1 Queensland, the Tyrian and the Wanego, came to hand with 6000 bunches of bananas each, and the men had to go to work upon them so that the consignees might be able to take possession without delay. In the Tyrian shipment there were found to "be fully t 2000 bunches affected, and these were promptly rejected and sent out to rea t) be destroyed. Not onlv were tho bananas themselves infected with tho fiy, but the stems also were found to be badly covered, while a number of the maggots were discovered undei the bark. The inspectors have in tho past been paying special attention to the stalks, thinking they were a pos sible harbour for the pest, and it wa< suggested some weeks ago that the importers should cut this waste portion off the bunches before taking then: from the vessels. This is now being done. The Warrego bananas were in better condition than the others, tilrejections being equal to only 60C bunches. The two vessels also had on board 653 oases of pineapples from Queensland, but- the only pest found in there was the mealy bug, an insect that if already well-known in the gardens oi this State. About 40 cases were condemned because of this insect.