Earl WlNTERTONasked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Board of Agriculture if his attention has been called to 2288W the serious ravages caused by caterpillars among oak trees in the weald of Sussex and Surrey; if he is aware that these ravages are becoming worse each year and are resulting in the actual death of some trees; and if he will send an expert or experts to observe the damage and suggest possible remedies?
§ Mr. PRATTThe interim forestry authority are aware that oak trees situate in the South of England are again being defoliated by the oak roller moth. Attacks by the caterpillar of this moth occur annually in some district or other and the attack in any particular district appears to come in cycles. The interim forestry authority have no evidence that taken as a whole the pest is increasing, nor have they any evidence that trees are killed outright by it. Trees which are defoliated about this time of the year will put out a new crop of leaves and appear normal by midsummer. If my Noble Friend expressly desires, the interim forestry authority will endeavour to send an inspector down to the district mentioned in his question, but they have more important forest insects under investigation, and it would be difficult for an inspector to find time to make this visit.