GRASSHOPPERS.

Poverty Bay Herald, Volume L, Issue 16606, 9 December 1924, Page 10

GRASSHOPPERS.

MILLIONS AT DUBBO

APPEAL TO GOVERNMENT

DIXBBO (N'.S.W.), Nov. 28.—The need for departmental action in connection with the grasshopper pest was emphasised' at the monthly meeting of the Dubbo P.P. Board to-day, when it was decided to ask the Minister of- Agriculture to take .some action in the matter.

Mr. T. M. Scott (Burroway) said that tlie grasshoppers near his place had; been passing for diays in tens, of millions. They .were as thick as- a snowstorm. He was of opinion that, when the eggs they were laying were hatched, in five or six weeks, the grasshoppers, in their greatly increased numbers, would be a terrible menace. In Argentina, ho said,, the Government was combating the grasshopper pest with a largo measure of success. In addition to breeding a fly that was the natural enemy of the grasshopper, the depart, ment sent out men, who, on seeing the approach of swarms, commandeered labor and! constructed iron fences, with ditches sometimes 50 miles long. These fences were very effective. Mr. A. G. Ochiltree stated' that in South .Africa the Government was combating the plague by means of a. fungus. Mr. W. E. Tink stated that there was a swarm of grasshoppers halfway between Peak Hill and Dubbo. He was of opinion that, bad there not been ••such an extraordinary growth of" herbage i tjiiis , yea.r,'<mai»y wheat '■■■ padlocks would have, been cleared'out already.