DOMAIN BOARD EXPENDITURE.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 16861, 11 October 1922, Page 6

DOMAIN BOARD EXPENDITURE.

TO THE EDITOR. *Sir, —Considerable interest has been manifested in entomological circles by recent attempts to counteract the depredations ot insect pests in this Dominion. Dr Tillyardj chief of the biological department ot the Cawthron Institute, Nelson, has offered to come u Christchurch to superintend the liberation of parasites that will attack the golden oak scale, which in turn is a> tacking the oaks of our parks and gardens. To the uninitiated in the mysteries of science it may not be so obvious why our local biologists and orchardists should lack the intelligence necessary to liberate these natural chalcid enemies of the oak 'scale. Our Domain Board, with its trans scendental wisdom lias decided to incur the necessary or unnecessary expenses (on behalf of the public) to the extent of half the amount, and the Selwyn Plantations Board is to be asked to pay the other half. An account of the difficulties and dangers connected with the liberation of the ferocious chalcid Habrolepis dalmani may serve to throw some light on the proceedings of the board. Of all the nations of the world, America is, perhaps, the most progressive in the department of entomology. Years of experience have proved the necessity of adopting appropriate methods in This dangerous and serious work of distributing Habrolepip dalmani. In those States where the oak grows prolificly, chosen and well-tried men are set apart as specialists in the work. Unerring shots with rifle and six-shooter, swift of foot, and fearless of danger, these brave men carry cut their onerous duties uneomplainingly in all sorts of weather. With such a type no consideration of cold cash mars the purity of the sporting instinct. Experience has made the capture of live, healthy specimens of the chalcid a mere matter of routine, and the&e> experts nave been quick to take advantage of similar experiences in the capture of the grizzly bear and other fierce animals. The captured chalcH is placed in a specially prepared cham ber, and it has been found necessary to combat a desire to sulk and develop morbid tendencies. The discovery of :i method of transmitting musical vibra tions by means of a wireless or telepathic apparatus to the antennae of the morbid specimen has been the n.eans of saving the lives of many an otherwise healthy chalcid. The amount o c money saved by this remarkable iew method is very considerable Transport of the captured live chalcid is also a problem that has been solved in a most efficient manner, thanks to ! the up-to-date methods of th'e U.S.A | postal authorities. When the postal van has delivered the cylinders of chal cids the task of liberation is begun A cylindrical chamber is placed in absolute alignment with the infected tree and the accuracy is assured by menu.of a theodolite, in every detail of this important part of the work. The anterior portion of the insects’ prison, which forms the door of escape, i? then freed at all retaining points. A board twelve feet long, six inches wide and one inch in thickness has previ ously been secured near the posterior end of the cage, which protrudes slightly from the chamber, so as to form under tension of a suitable spring a simple but powerful impellant medium. held in position by a trigger. Pressure on the latter instantly releases the board, which strikes the protruding end of the cylinder, causing a sudden compression of the air content and the anterior door and the enclosed S ehaleids are violently projected into the tree top. The accuracy of aim has been remarkable in thousands of instances, and many unsus pecting scale insects have receive.! their death-blow in a most merciful and instantaneous manner. The necessity of combatting all sorts of parasites in our Garden City will be obvious to all, and the services of highly-trained experts should be secured at all costs, even from America —I am, etc., WM. JAMIESON. 15. York St., Opawa.