THE COUNTRY.

Press, Volume LVI, Issue 16854, 7 June 1920, Page 3

THE COUNTRY.

Jottings for Fanners. The appearance of a disease in soft turnips, new to Southland, is causing the Department of Agriculture in Invercargill some anxiety, and specimens of the turnips affected by the disease have been forwarded to "Wellington. The disease made its appearance in a small crop owned by a farmer near Mataura, and has practically ruined 50 per cent, of his soft turnip crop. The disease did not affect swedes, nnless they happened to be growing among the soft turnips, showing that the soft turnips were more susceptible to attack. The form the disease takes is to attack the bulb and cause a cancerous growth which looks most repulsive, and which harbours numerous maggots, which eat the bulb, completely destroying its food value. In many cf the turnips effected the tops, when pulled, come away like a &kull cas, leaving a bulb that, was simply a mass of pus, in which numerous maggots existed. It was evident from the specimens forwarded that, the disease originated in the soil, as the infection invariably commenced on [ the external part of the bulb, at or I below the ground line. The tops and roots' were little affected, and the lat- . ter were strong and healthy at the cop. The area infected with the disease is one in which turnips were grown Inst . season without any* sign of disease. HORNBY-ISLINGTON. An enjoyable social evening was tendered to Mr John Cook, of Islington, on Thursday evening by Mr and Mrs 0. Franc-is and the boarders of the Islington boarding-house. The function was held in the large dining-room, which was very prettily decorated wiili evergreens, flowers, and coloured electric lights. Mr Cook, who has beer, in the employ of the Xcw Zealand Refrigerating Company at Islington for many years, was married on Thursday. Mr Jas. Leslie, works manager, on behalf of_ the foremen, presented Mr Cook with a valuable clock, suitably inscribed, and a silver cigarette case, and spoke of the high esteem in which Mr Cook had always been "bold l>v the residents of the district. Mr John Henry, on behalf of the slaughter-room employees, presented Mr Cook with a large .'iolid French marble clock, with inscription; and two Drmltoii vs«es, and made reference to the good fellowship which had always existed between IVir Cook and his fellow-workers. On behalf of Ms fellow-boarders, Mr M. Hanna.n then handed to Mr Cook a shaving outfit in solid leather case, and wished Mr and Mrs Cool: .a- bright and prosperous future. Mr Cook returned thanks for the valuable presents and kind expressions. A good musical programs : was provided, the following .-ontrihvitin items: Mr Lunn, song; Miss Creqii.^, song; Mr Mason, recitation; Mi- ; Brackenbridge, clog dance; Mr Gardi-1 ner, violin solo: Sir Hunt, recitations j and step dancing After supper the Toom was cleared"for dancing, to music supplied by Messrs Lunn, Johansen, and Avery. Mr N. McrGuinness acted as M.C. DARFEELD. After a week's boisterous weather, accompanied by snow on the higher countrv, the elements arc once again normal, and team work is going on apace. There is every evidence of a large area, being sown in wheat this season. The district is lookng forward to Dr. Truby King, C.M.G., delivering his first lecture, since his return from abroad, in the. Memorial Hall, tomorrow evening. SOUTHBRIDGE. At the monthly meeting of the Southbridge Town Board, Messrs W. J*. McEvedy aud A. Tong were appointed representatives to the conference to ho i held • under the auspices of the Pro-gress^-League and Lyttelton Harbour Board to discuss the port question. By fivo votes to two it was decided thab the delegates should vote for Lvttelton, with improvements, as the nort for the future. Messrs 11. J. Parkin and H. G-. Hubbard _waited on the Board as a deputation ' from the recently-formed Fire Brigade, and asked for the Board's support. They stated that the hose required re-jointing, and facilities were needed for drying hose. The Board decided to give the Brigade every encouragement. Mr J. C. Free, the Brigade's nominee*, was appointed superintendent. It was decided to prosecute persons who clear gorse from their frontages. A dance, under the auspices of the Fire Brigade, was well attended, despite the boisterous weather. Mrs Campbell supplied the music, and Fireman R. Hampton was M.C. The secretarial work was well carried out by Fireman H. G. Hubbard. ' LEESTON. A ''Dickens" evening was given at the Lees tea Wesley Guild's weekly meeting on .Thursday night. The arrangements were iti the hands of Mrs Laycock, who pave an interesting sketch of the life of the most popular of English anthers. Selections from the works of Dickens were given by reading and recital, valuable assistance in this connexion being .liven by Mrs Brown, Miss Doak, and Messrs W. Hewitt, R. Bornett, and 1.. Eade. The duet, "What Ave the "Wild "Waves Riving?" was excellently sung by Miss M. Eado and "\lr Li. I'ado. '"Bob Cratch it's Thinner Party" was staged, and ''Tiny Tim" recited "Little Jim