OPOSSUMS

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume LIII, Issue 19, 24 January 1919, Page 4

OPOSSUMS

DEPREDATIOONS IN SOUTHER! ORCHARDS.

< Orchardis-ta in .the Mount Herbert district have, a new enemy with which' to contend, this year’s outputs of peaches being considerably reduced by] the depredations of opossums, states the Christchurch Press. These little thieves come from the Government reserve on the. south side of Mount Bbr-‘ bert, having- been driven te the -Mwer levels by the exceptionally heavy snows) of last winter. Their usual mode of. procedure at present is to clilhh tile, branches of the peach trees, and take’ one or two bites out of. each within reach. In this way on© young! tree in Charteris Bay,, laden with fine! specimens, was left after, a yisit one night by. opossums, with oni!|jr three sound peaches, the remainder being unfit for use. The presence of the little marauders’ ■ has been reported' in Teddington, Port, Levy, and the surrounding districts. few have been seen in. the vicinity' of Allandale and Bay, and thejp have even wandered as far .uflield ae thb slopes above th© residential quarters of ! Lyttelton. ’ The pposennri, with the* taste of connoisseurs), show. * marked, preference for peaches, other fruit her ing as yet comparatively free from theiri unwelcome attentions. , .. , The grey opossums were originally brought from. Australia by Mr_ W>. 'F-“ of Kaftan a, 'ajhd liberated in the reserve, <*nd the brown ring-) tailed species were secured in Tasmania, and liberated on Mount Herbert by thelate Mr J. Gardner of -Purau. They are protected, and have largely increas-, ed during the past few years. Fruitgrowers on the Pemnsnla are ronbh perturbed regarding the new menace.

Some further interesting information regarding opossums, and the damage done By them to fruit, was given to a representative of The Press the 1 next day by Hr L. C. Gardtiner, of Pterau. Mr Gardiner said that the opossums had made their way over from tne Kaituna side of the hills to Furau, arid are gradually working their way along the hills towards Port Levy. In addition u>

their depredations, m respect' oi peaches, Mr Gardiner has noted that on his property at Purau the walnut trees have been attacked by opossums, who , have eaten every nut on the trees. Apparently, it is oiily a matter of time before these pest® will reach Akaroa, which is famous lor its walnut trees, and when that happens the opossums will v- able to gorge themselves to their hearts’ content. A statement inyesterday’a issue, to ’ -fleet Hajb “Mr J, Gardiner,. ©! Purau,” intrpdntod' the brown 'rihg-trul*>d opossum at Purau, is Controverted by Mr Gardiner, who elates tbit whoever was responsible lor introducing 4 he opossum to Purau, it was not afiy "Mr Gardiner, of Purau.” The beverage to serve on every festive occasion is Kola-Nip. Drink it with your meals—give it to your friends. Re-freshing-stimulating. Tty a bottle to* day.* . f