THE FRIEND'S ENEMY.
In all this branch of science the dangers of interference with the balance of nature are realized, and precautions are taken. For example, an insect that eats the young shoots of the blackberry, which is one of the New Zealand plagues, was discovered ; and millions of the creatures have been sent out from England. They are said to be working well ; and though they will not probably reduce the weed to decent proportions they will, it is thought, arrest further spread. They are doing good ; but it is realized that they may also do harm in other ways. That chance must be faced, so even while they were being bred and exported research has been busy with parasitic or other enemies of the beneficent insect. Supposing in the future a message were to come from New Zealand to say that the insects were becoming unharnessed and growing out of hand, the appropriate enemy could be sent out at once and the balance restored. It all sounds very slick and clever ; but how delicate a control is necessary in the regulation of any naturalized creature or thing !
Previous page
