DIGGING FOR VICTORY

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume 79, 10 February 1944, Page 3

DIGGING FOR VICTORY

MASSEY COLLEGE EXHIBITS Wellington, Feb. 9. Several battalions of the army of pests, from small boys to microscopic insects, which the amateur gardener has to contend with in his Home Front offensive against World Pest No. 1, provided one of the features of the “Dig for Victory” exhibition which was opened in the Wellington Town Hall to-day. The exhibit of pests—to which onlooking humorists vocally added a few at this time of income tax demands —was staged by Massey Agricultural College, and formed a bright, if to the gardener a somewhat sinister, nook in the comprehensive garden scene filling practically the whole hall. Alongside a demonstration of how plants absorb water, and the amount they require, arranged by the wellknown agricultural botanist, Dr J. S. Ycates, of Massey College, were vivid drawings of insect pests keeping themselves above the bread line among turnips, green vegetables, fruit and lawn grasses. A host of life-size mounted specimens gave the impression of a museum: while misroscopes, when not jerked out of alignment by a crowding public, magnified a diversity of troublesome midgets. Further ‘on, the hopes of gardeners rose again to normal as parsnips, letI tuces and beans thrived on well-laid i compost, and Government certified seed potatoes, correctly grown, dwarfed I other nondescript seed unable to withstand curl leaf and other scourges. That peach and other trees, when cut deeply, should be sealed against discolouration of the heartwood was obvious from other exhibits. A square foot of pasture grass contains roots which, if placed end to end would reach about 50 miles. This statement is printed among the display of plants and their enormous thirsts Tus network of roots takes up some Jplbs of water annually. The operation of a plant taking in water is shown and the amount of water is weighed as it is absorbed.