Plant Sanitation- 



306 



Mr. Green : It is quite right. I have seen that, too, and I have been to other 

 fields and found the conditions exactly opposite and providing no evidence one way 

 or the other. 



The Chairman remarked that at the last meeting Mr. Turner stated the pest 

 was the worst in grevilleas. 



A question was asked whether it was possible for the caterpillars to get back 

 to the grevilleas again. 



Mr. Braybrooke said the insects lowered themselves by means of their own 

 threads and could pull themselves up again. 



Mr. Pole said it was just possible if they were not touched they would climb 

 up again. The tortrix could not do much damage to the grevillea. Therefore, if 

 they adopted the plan of keeping their tea bushes clean, he thought they would 

 accomplish something. Whether they could free themselves entirely of the pest 

 they could find out later. Let the tortrix get at the grevillea as much as it liked if 

 they could keep their tea clear. It could do no more damage to the grevillea than 

 the planter could by lopping. He advised the planter not to lop, or they would lose 

 their timber, and tortrix-damaged timber was worse than nothing at all. (Hear, hear.) 



Mr. Gossage said he was quite in agreement with Mr. Pole. At the present 

 time he had no tortrix where there were no grevilleas. 



Several members said their experience showed them there was no rule. 



Mr. Green said the only possible harm that grevilleas could do was to infect 

 other trees. 



Mr. Braybrooke : Can the tortrix caterpillar live and turn into chrysallis 

 on the grevillea, 



Mr. Green : Yes. 



insect pests and extermination. 



A member asked if there were cases of such a pest having been effectually 

 stamped out. 



Mr. Green said there was a tremendous fight against a similar caterpillar in 

 North America which was cleared off in districts, but probably, through lack of 

 unanimity, not altogether. It was an introduced pest, and of course introduced 

 pests were more troublesome to deal with and exterminate. When he said 

 exterminate he meant keep down. It was almost impossible to say whether 

 such pests had been exterminated or not, but they had been reduced to such 

 a degree as to be of no account. 



Mr. Braybrooke gave an instance of an insect pest in one of the forest 

 districts of Germany having been exterminated by vigorous treatment. 



Mr. Craib : Then let us speedily combine. 



The Chairman said he hoped no one would pay absurd prices for the 

 collection of egg masses. Separate gangs being set to work would give much mot e 

 satisfaction than the payment of so much money per thousand. 



THE RESOLUTION. 



The following resolution was then proposed :— 



" That this Association is of opinion that all superintendents of estates should 

 approach their agents with the view to concerted action in the matter of picking off 

 egg masses of the tortrix moth, as they consider the matter is a very serious one and 

 calls for unity of action; and that particulars of the collections be sent to the Hon. 

 Secretary for tabulation." 



