THE BLACKBERRY PEST.

Otago Witness, Issue 3853, 17 January 1928, Page 67

THE BLACKBERRY PEST.

PROGRESS OF INVESTIGATIONS.

A HOPEFUL REPORT.

NELSON, January 12. From time to time during the progress of investigations into the problem of blackberry control, which are being carried on under Dr Tillyard and Mr Tonnoir at the Cawthron Biological Control Station, reports are received of more or less extensive damage being done by insects or other organisms, such as fungus, in various parts of New Zealand. These are all carefully investigated, but most of them turn out to be disappointing. Recently, however, Mr Gibbs, of Tapawera, drew the institute’s attention to the destruction of a large area oF blackberry in his district, and sent specimens of it, which were found to be badly affected by a combination of the large vine scale and an unknown fungal or bacterial organisation. The latter, has not yet 45een determined owing to the absence of Dr K. M. Curtis from Nelson on vacation. A visit was paid by Mr Tonnoir to the infected area recently, and it was found that very extensive damage was being done over a considerable area. The infection, being confined to an isolated valley, is not likely to spread much. Naturally a plentiful supply of infected specimens has been brought back to Nelson, and tests will be arranged on the blackberry under varying conditions of growth in order to discover how far the combination of insect and fungus is likely to be successful. Those in charge of the specimens state that the public should not expect too much. It may well be that, as in the case of other organisms already present in New Zealand, these new enemies of the blackberry will work successfully only under very special conditions, and that they cannot therefore be utilised to any large extent in work of eradication. This notification is given in order that those interested may know that no effort is being spared to find a solution of this pressing problem.