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New Zealand Mail, Issue 1746, 23 August 1905, Page 72

The Government Biologist, Mr Kirk, reporting on representations made by members of Parliament that a blight has attacked the bluegum plantations in South Canterbury, states that the damage is being done by an imported scale insect, which is killing the trees. Owing to the height of many of the trees, it is impossible to spray; but there is a small ladybird beetle, a native of Australia, known as Rhizobius ventrails, which does a great deal to keep the scale in check. On the 15th August of last year he wrote and made arrangements to receive successive supplies of this ladybird, and received several letters from the experts in Australia regretting that owing to the extremely unfavourable season they had not been able to collect. In a letter received on the 6th ultimo, it was stated that the ladybirds would not he available till the end of the present month. Even then, if the weather is severe, he may have to hold them in the laboratory, as to liberate them in the South during had weather would be fatal. He is, however, promised a succession of consignments, and this should meet the case. Should the natural enemy faul, then the only way to prevent the spread of the scale would be to out down the infested plantations, let the trees break again from the stumps, and spray thoroughly. Mr and. Mrs J. W ilson-P otter were passengers by the White Star liner Athenio as far as Hobart. Mr Potter is one of the proprietors of the federal line of steamers. He may_ later on visit Wellington.