FIGHTING CODLIN MOTH

Southland Times, Issue 17660, 18 February 1916, Page 7

FIGHTING CODLIN MOTH

When the codlin moth a few years ago began to cause trouble for the applegrowers in the '.dominion, various methods of dealing with the pest were adopted. Some growers pinned their faith to binding the butt of the tree with sacking, believing that the grub of the moth crawled up from the ground and would be stayed in its upward progress by the sacking. Seeing that the egg from which the larva is hatched is deposited by the moth on the tree itself, the idea that the grub crawled from below Is erroneous; still, there are some who continue to put sacking on their trees. By so doing, Mr W. J. Courtier, tlie Government Orchardist, points out, they are but providing a perfect breeding place for the moth. The other day Mr Courtier was, in support of his warning, exhibiting in Rangiora a piece of sacking taken from a tree in the district which was thickly inhabited by the pest in all stages of development, from the chrysalis state, to the moth ready to commence the propagation of its species. With the evidence of fallacy of successfully dealing with the pest in the manner indicated, those who have adopted it would lie wise to remove tins sacking from their trees and spray with arsenate of lead, the only effective remedy for the moth yet introduced.