PLANT PATHOLOGY.

Auckland Star, Volume LXXI, Issue 218, 13 September 1940, Page 8

PLANT PATHOLOGY.

NEW ZEALANDER'S WORK. SCIENTIST'S COMMENDATION. CHRISTCHURCH, this day. Highly complimentary reference to the abilities of a former student of Lincoln College, Mr. I. D. Blair, is contained in a letter received from Dr. S. D. Garrett, mycologist at the famous Rothamsted experimental station in England, where Mr. Blair is working under a Macmillan Brown Scholarship. The letter, which was dated May 30, speaks in the highest terms of Mr. Blair. "Blair was placed under my immediate supervision when he came here," the letter states. "I gave him a problem which I was keeping for someone with more ability and experience than the usual run of research students. I am glad to say that he has taken full advantage of this opportunity, and has developed a aew line of work with conspicuous success. "We are very pleased to liave him working here, and lie is a distinct asset to our department of plant pathology. He is, of course, extremely interested in English methods of agriculture, and in this respect has made the fullest use of his time here; he is this week collecting samples of diseased plants, and making observations, in Norfolk. "I feel that our association with him is one of distinct mutual benefit, and can only wish that we got more workers from the Dominions to come here."' Mr. Blair, who is now 27 vears old, is the son of the Rev. C. Blair, and was educated at the Rangiora High School and Canterbury College. He was at Lincoln College from 1932 to 193«, and gained the degree of Master of Agricultural Science. He was assistant lecturer in botany, and specialised in the investigation of plant diseases.