THE CODLIN MOTH BILL.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XXIX, Issue 8959, 17 August 1892, Page 3

THE CODLIN MOTH BILL.

Sir, —I have talked with several re Codlin Moth Bill, and I do not hear of one who has any wish to be annoyed by the Government meddling. The folks have enough to do in attending to their farming without being harassed by codlin moth inspectors. I was acquainted with the codlin moth grub at home ; we called it the apple maggot. They leave the apple and crawl along the branches that gives the best chance for the birds. The pippins were the most damaged. I knew of it as long back as 1858 and 1859. We have not beard of any legislation at home. Thty have weightier matters to attend to—these toy Governments have very little to do. If anything is done let it be in bringing birds or insects into the country that will eat the moth, and distributing them through the country, and as the orchardists had nothing to do in bringing these orchard pests into the country, let the Government do the inspection work out of the general revenue. I think the introduction of birds and bats the best thing to do at present, and throw pleuty of lime on the trees. The lime wants to be unslaked and thrown on when the trees are damp. Keep on the windward side and when the wind turns serve the other side the same way. This will kill the moss and destroy many insects. Repeat the dose all the spring months about every fortnight and the trees will pay for all the trouble. I do not think we shall ever be wholly free from any of these insects, but let everyone do his best in his own way, and if any advice can be given let it be in a kindly spirit, and not so much of that wolf -in - the - manger style, and we shall soon make that nightmare a thing of the past. The following are some useful birds I was acquainted with : —The wren tribe, the swallow tribe, the hedge sparrow, the nightingale, but I doubt if the last could be kept in confinement. It likes to be in thickets. The woodpecker, one of the wrens, about the size of a walnut (feathers and all), lays from 16 to 18 eggs at a time, and, I believe, has two broods in the season. I think it was the golden crested wren. I have seen their nests hanging like a stocking from branches of trees, and even on nettles, but the present system of syringing with poisons would destroy the birds if they were brought out. The little white-eyes have nearly disappeared. They must get killed eating poisoned moths and licking poisoned honey. The wagtail tribe are also very useful. Why did not the fruitgrowing associations (whatever that may mean) make a complete job of it. and have a Bill to destroy all orchards that did not belong to the union ? Their Bill is crooked, and only half a Bill, for they seem to have forgotten the buildings where the fruit is housed before being put on the market, and also that people will eat apples and carry some to their friends, and the cores are always thrown away. Can they prevent boys stuffing their pockets fall, and throwing the cores about? Now, to complete that job, why not have it enacted that all houses and,outbuildings shall be bandaged, and old fences and thorn hedges, for one of the favourite places of the moth is in the split ends of the thorns where they have been cut. And to further complete the job, tarpaulins should be provided to cover shingle roofs and fumigate the buildings every seven days.—l am, etc., Herbert Day. Bombay, August 11, 1892.

TO THE EDITOR. Sir,—With regard to the codlin moth depredations up to the present, they are very slight here. In one orchard it made its appearance on a few apples, but it was got ■rid of by gathering and making immediate use of all damaged apples. In another orchard I saw pears with the moth holes, and one apple was shown me with a hole in it as big as the top of a lead pencil. If that was the codlin moth he was a bouncer. Other apples had small runs or tracks where the worm had travelled similar to the potato moth. Which was the identical codlin we have not had sufficient experience to tell; in fact, it is uncertain if the real " scamp " is here. As for Government inspection of our orchards, I have heard of no one in the district favourable to anything of the kind. Care should be taken regarding the infected fruit from Tasmania and elsewhere. According to report Tasmania is badly infected. A large quantity of fruit is sent from there, and no doubt a deal of it is infected. It would be useless to try to eradicate the moth if fruit from infected countries is allowed to be landed here. Most probably Tasmanian fruit brought the moth to New Zealand. A case of fruit was sent to auction a few weeks back about 501bs weight. The fruit was sold at auction for 03 6d, and the charges upon that case were 2s 10d. That style of business will kill the codlin moth., trees, fruit, and all. —I am, etc., A Fruitgrower. Mangawai, August 11, 1892.