THE CODLIN MOTH PEST.

Waikato Times, Volume XXXIX, Issue 3123, 21 July 1892, Page 2

THE CODLIN MOTH PEST.

TO THE KMTOR. Silt,—As there is a groat stir just now asainst the cndlin moth, aud other insect pests, if you will kindly allow we n little space, I will Rive you my experience. I have a small orchard near nay dwelling house, and when the codlia moth first made its appearance I bandaged the trees and hung lights up them. I only caught a few the first year, the second year they increased, and the third year I scarcoly got a sound apple, so I gave it up us a failure. I venture to say that all the local Acts, or Acts of Parliament, or fines, or penalties will not make the least difference. They are here, and likely to remain. Then during the summer the leech and the turnip moth, when the season ooines round, they spread over the country like a shower of rain, and soou accomplish their destruction, and who is able to stop them. Then there is the caterpillar and the small bird nuisance. Some are in favour of poisoning the birds, others say they prey on the caterpillars. I have been growing oats in the Waikato nearly every year for the last twenty years, and I never knew the caterpillar worse than the last two years. The caterpillars seem to work from tho bottom and the sparrows from the top. They, are too many for me, so I will have to back out of growing oats. It is my opinion that if we intend to continue to grow grain, wo will have to poison the sparrows.—Yours truly, ~ „ K Brnai. Cambridge, 11th July, 1S!)2.