BLIGHT IN TOMATOES

Dominion, Volume 2, Issue 621, 25 September 1909, Page 8

BLIGHT IN TOMATOES

.. • (By -'Tcleffrapb-Special CorresDoodcot.) \;: ;' ■';,' -, -' ■ Auckland, Septembor 21. ./Fruitgrowers jri'some parts of tho province are complaining that potatoes. and tomatoes are. "suffering .severely .from a blight ; which looks suspiciously'like tho'Trishi potato blight. Speaking to' a."Herald" representative, Mr. C. T... Spearpoht, : a well-known fruitgrower near .Waikumete,.said/his> plants were so,.injuriously affected- that instead of getting 71b.-of fruit off each vine' th« appearances were for only lib. or ,21b. Out of'lsoo plants 1 growing,,inside he had only been'able to: save/700// Some of his neighbours had also suffered severely.. Mr. Spearpontv attributed the/ blight .to, the continued wet/weather, and tliought-a month's sunshine would assist materially, in checking it.. He therefore advises that: the outdoor tomatoes bo- not planted till the .end of next month. He has found spraying with Bordeaux mixture most effective. .The. Agricultural Department states that.there is reason'in the supposition'that potato; blight might attack tomatoes. , : The' blight, however, can/ be, combated by spraying with Bordeaux .mixture, containing the-following ingredients:—4lb. of bluestone, 51b. of.lime, and 50 gallons of-water. In'the!case of delicate.plants'.a- weaker wis-, ittir'e- ca'tv" advantageously be,used. .'■ The weather has ~been very.'.unfavourable•. to fruit'growers;, and ; fruit generally'/wilL-bc-a'month: later-'than usual. Strawberries .-hare suffered' most/through the weather,.and' this fruit.will uelato'anda/medium, crop'.'!'-,■-.;' ■■■;'; •■-.-•.