MENACE TO ORCHARDS.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXVII, Issue 20640, 12 August 1930, Page 6

MENACE TO ORCHARDS.

CODLIN MOTH PEST. PREVALENCE IN AUCKLAND, NECESSITY FOR CONTROL, The attention of orchardists was drawn to the menace of codlin moth by a letter from the Director of Horticulture, Mr. J. A. Campbell, which was received by a meeting of the Auckland Provincial Fruit Growers' Council yesterday. " It is to be regretted that in spit® of the experience of the past, which goes to prove that codlin moth can be more reliably controlled than almost any other of the major orchard diseases, provided modern methods of control are applied codlin moth infection is unreasonably high in many commercial orchards in the Auckland district." stated the letter. "This fact is not only detrimental tot the welfare of the particular orchards con. cerned, but to the good standing of the whole of the orchard industry of th<i province, and, what is more, there is a, grave danger of the good name of th<{ whole industry of the Dominion being; affected through the exportation of mothcontaminated fruit. " In the circumstances it is essential that growers of the district generally, particularly those growers who know thaft they arc falling short in this regard, should view with a very much greater degree of seriousness (he question of moth control and adopt those methods' that have proved both locally and elsewher® that they will adequately effect an im» provement. Old, obsolete equipment, such as hand pumps, should bo replaced bfl a power outfit, either portable or stationary. " The local orchard instructor and stall are being called on to press this matter with reasonable vigour in the orchard, auction mart and in connection with export. ' In the orchard by taking proceedings against any grower whose orchard shows more than a reasonable amount of moth infection; in the auction mart by restricting moth infection definitely to the 5 per cent, allowed bv tha Act, and in connection with export by rejecting altogether fruit from an orchard should supplies from such an orchard be found to be affected with codlin moth..'' The secretary, Mr. G. A. Green, re* ported that he had replied. "Notwithstanding that it was- only during one fortnight while in Auckland that His Excellency the Governor-General was able to secure apples without the 'little brown tunnel,' I fear that your reminder is only too much needed in some places." read, Mr. Green's letter.