ROOT KNOT.

Dominion, Volume 5, Issue 1544, 13 September 1912, Page 4

ROOT KNOT.

AN ORCHAItDIST'S TROUBLE. In the House of Representatives yesterday afternoon, Mr. 11. Poland (Ohinemuri) called the attention of the Minister for Agriculture to tho fact that fruit trees were being condemned wholesale in tho Auckland district, on account of tho prevalence of root knot disease. He was informed that a million trees, worth £20,000 would be destroyed. Other members discussed the origin and nature of the disease, and urged tho necessity for somo Government action. Tho Hon. W. P. Massey (Minister for. Agriculture) etnted that many trees ori- ■. ginally imported from Victoria wero affected with tho disease, which hnd been diagnosed both by New Zealand and Victorian Government experts.'. It was understood that the- , Victorian Government was taking steps to prevent tha exportation of any more affected trees. So far, not a giWt: deal of this disease had boon reported officially in New Zealand nurseries. The "Department was taking steps to inspect all shipments of trees, but h> that as little inconvenience as possible should be caused to growers, the packages were allowed to bo sent to tho orchards, and there officially inspected, so that any trees suitable for planting might bo saved, while nil found to bo afl'ecl«l wore destroyed. In regard to the statement that a million trees had been affected, Mr. Massey said that the whole importation of trees into-the Dominion for this season was only 410,000. Mr. W. C. Buchanan (Wairarapa) said he had learned that a pettier in rapa had been ordered to uproot 183 trees in his applp orchard. Mr. G. "Witty (Riccarton) suggested that us the Msc wns going to bo considerable, the Depnrtnvnt oiiglit to fond up a special inspector to tho north, whero tho disease was prevalent. i Mr. H. Atmoro (Nelson) said that or- ; charclisfa in his district woro cf opinion ■ that the Departmental officers vciv mis- i taken, and thnt there was no disease ■ such as that alleged. 1 Tho Minister promised that (he matter i would bo carefully investigated by tho Department. i