CODLIN MOTH PLANT.

Temuka Leader, Issue 1598, 23 June 1887, Page 3

CODLIN MOTH PLANT.

The codlin moth plant (says a "Waikato correspondent), the flowers of which act as a trap to moths of all descriptions, destroying them by thousands, has been successfully grown by a gentleman in "Wanganui. As the matter is of general interest, especially to orchardists, the following particulars of its growth, received from the grower of the plant in response to an application for seeds, will be acceptable to your readers:—After regretting that at present he has no seeds ripe for distribution, the writer , says he is expecting more from the Cape, where the plant is indigenous, and is himself trying to grow some from cuttings The plant is easily raised, In his case, the ground was dug alongside of a stake fence, and the seed was sown slightly. Nothing should be planted along with it, as shade seems to kill it. Judging from appearances, a chain in length of this creeper will yield 100 pods of seed, and a pod of seed will sow about half a chain in length, so that once a few seeds are obtained, the plants may be rapidly propagated in any district. In the hedges of creepers thus grown by this gentleman last summer, thousands of moths of different varieties were captured _ daily, so that, he says, presuming that it fails to attract the codlin moth, it is more than probable that it will kill many others that are destructive to plants in our gardens. Mr Kirk, Chief Commissioner of the Forests Department, Wellington, has, it is said, applied for seed for the purpose of growing it next year, so as to be able to distribute the seed throughout the colony. _________