CODLIN MOTH

New Zealand Times, Volume XXX, Issue 6489, 8 April 1908, Page 3

CODLIN MOTH

THE NATURAL ENEMX-

One or two fruitgrowers who apparently wish to continue with diHy oroharda t have been attacking the Department in the columns otf country newspaper© for enforcing tho control of codIm moth In the absence of u natural enemy. These critics represent such a small percentage of growers and their views are so contrary to generally-ac-cepted facts that tuey are not worth noticing and contradicting in detail. Bui they suggest the need of placing before growers m general the exact position tho Department takes up in regard to tho natural enemy and spraying ae means of eradication.

Tl;e Department fully rewguisea the value of natural .enemies ' and hats n! wady- accomplished work in the introduction of these. Ae to the parasite of the oodlin moth, this has been introduced at groat eiqpens© from California, has boon brod in n special insectory at Auckland, and good numbers have been liberated in our fruit districts. The Department does not claim that the parasite will effectively check the post. This has yet to be proved. But it will bo given every opportunity of doing so. At present it promises well both in America and in this country, but' further tests will require to bo made before an authoritative statement can bo made in regard to it. In the meantime system-, atio spraying with the arsenic preparations, especially arsenate of lend, is giving excellent results. This treatment the Department lias advocated from its Inception to the present time.