GRASS GRUB AGAIN

Poverty Bay Herald, Volume LIX, Issue 17947, 26 November 1932, Page 4

GRASS GRUB AGAIN

APPEARANCE AT PATUTAHI RYE GRASS SEED PADDOCKS The grass grub, or caterpillar, has made its appearance in the district again, and it is attacking the seed heads of paddocks shut up under the Agricultural Department’s scheme of ryegrass seed certification. Little damage lias been noticed so far, but the appearance of the caterpillar is earlier than last year, and, if an early check is not given to the unwelcome visitor, it may prove troublesome. Farmers in the vicinity are carefully watching the position. Some Gisborne and Wairoa farmers suffered severe loss from the ravages of the caterpillar last season, and one paddock at Wairoa with 10 acres of ryegrass seed, estimated at the heavy yield of 35 to 40 bushels to the acre, was so badly attacked one night that the following_day it was not worth cutting for the seed. No other experience on such serious lines came under notice in the Gisborne or Wairoa districts last summer, but nevertheless some of the crops of ryegrass seed were thinned out considerably. The fact that, if the caterpillars are in sufficient numbers, they can sweep through a paddock in the one night and render it useless, makes the position one that should be closely watched.

Several plans for stopping the ravages of the pest havo been put forward, but the most acceptable for. the farmers of the district will be the ploughing of a deep furrow round any paddock that it is particularly desired should be saved, with the steep side of the furrow towards the crop. This will have the effect of staying the progress of the grubs, and if pits are dug at intervals along the furrowmany of the caterpillars will find their way into the pits, and will not be able to get out.