NURSERYMEN'S ASSOCIATION.

Press, Volume LX, Issue 17990, 6 February 1924, Page 11

NURSERYMEN'S ASSOCIATION.

ADDRESSES BY PRESIDENT. A large gathering of nurserymen assembled in Messrs A. "W. Buxton's buildings last night to hear an address by Mr T. D. Lennie, of Invercargill, president of the Nurserymen's Association. Mr It.' Nairn was in the chair. In his opening remarks, Mr Lennie said that Christchureh had the largest council of nurserymen throughout the Dominion, and it was a great pleasure to address so representative a gathering of horticulturists. The 'membership of the Association was now 560, an increase of 35, of whom 350 were affiliated. He stated that the Association stood for the inspection and registration of nurseries, for a State Forest service, and 'for more instructors. In connexion with the paucity of instructors, Mr Lennie said that there were but seven instructors in the South Island. Some towns had none at all, and in various auction marts, infected fiuit was being sold without restriction. More money was needed for scientific research. The State Forest service had been brought in nine years ago and the Government had been planting on waste land. He advocated that a quarantine island be established, preferably at Somes Island. The introduction of new plants would not necessarily bt restricted, but in the event of blight being detected this could be eradicated by planting on the Island for testing. Mr Lennie dealt at some length with the effect of foreign pests. If the hardwood borer, which was prevalent in Australia, got into New Zealand, it would have the same effect as the white pine borer had on houses. He realised that nurserymen were awake to the dangers of importing insect pests with the hardwood poles procured from Australia for use in electric reticulation. He felt pleased that the Institute of Horticulture was making sucli satisfactory progress and suggested that the Institute ■ could establish councils throughout the towns of the Dominion.

In concluding, Mr Lennie remarked that great credit was due to the Government officials for their ability in overcoming the fire-blight pest. This pest was reported some time ago in Auckland, but while touring recently through that province he found the disease eradicated.