FIREBLIGHT

Hokitika Guardian, 18 January 1921, Page 4

FIREBLIGHT

4 bacteriological DISEASE. h NELSON, Jan 11. A '‘-Mail” reporter drew the attention t,f Dr Tillyurd, of the Cawthron Institlte to some interesting remarks made

by the Hon C. J. Barr, Minister of Public Health, on the subject of fireblight in which Dr Tillyard’s name was mentioned. Mr Barr was reported to have said; “It was extraordinary that scientists had not discovered a cure for fire blight. He hoped experts like Dr Tillyard and the Government entomologists and bacteriologists would give their unremitting attention to the question of discovering a remedy for the

pest.” Dr Tillyard made the following state-ment.-Numbers of able American scientific men have attempted for many years to find a cure for fire blight. As it is a bacteriological disease it is more surprising to find that no cure had been discovered for tuberculosis. Precautions can be taken against such diseases, apd the more strigently the precautions are applied the more probable is it that the ravages of the disease will be reduced to a minimum. Methods likely to be effective are quick notification of the diseasefi quick destruction of

the affected trees, and the destruction or control of the host plants, such as hawthorn. The first two of these present no difficulty other than the organisation of a sufficient force of welltrained officers and the keen co-opera-tion of orebardists. A\ ith regard to tlie third method, the crux of the whole problem in New Zealand appears to he control of the hawthorn hedge. The danger of the hawthorn hedge from the fruitgrowers’ standpoint has already been pointed out in a series of articles which will shortly lie published as pamphlets.” Dr Tillyard added that lie did not regard himself as a skilled bacteriologist, and could not attempt to find a remedy for a bacterial disease.

FIGHTING AN OjiCHARD MENACE. 1 )EBARI’.M ENT’S ACT!VITIES. NELSON, Jan. 14. With reference to certain opinions and statements published "with regard to Hie orchard disease known as “fireblight,” the Hon AY. Nosworthy, Minister of Agriculture, points out that tire blight is an entirely new disease to this country. Before suitable legislation to .cope with the situation could lie suggested some experience if its behaviour is necessary. Unfortunately, such information was not available sufficiently early to enable legislation to be enacted last session. Furthermore, it does not appear to be understood that had legislation been passi'd last session it would have materially affected the position to-day, as its effect would not have been felt until the winter months In the meantime, the matter is being carefully watched by the Government, and if sj)eeinl legislation is found desirable it will be brought before Parliament as soon as possible alter the opening of,next session.

“There are,” the Ministr went on to say, “those who consider the Depart- 1 meat’s action not sufficiently drastic and who urge that affected trees, whether lightly or severely attacked, should he immediately destroyed. For their information 1 may state that the method adopted hy the Department ot dealing with fire Might is based in that in use in the United States, where they have had vast experience, but that: it is applied very much more drastically in as far as the question of partial versus complete destruction of trees is concerned, the Department holding, to: some extent at least, the same opinion as the critics in question, namely, that it is hotter to err on the side of severity, rather than on that of leniency, when dealing with a disease of this character, especially at the outset However, to carry this to the suggested’ extent of complete destruction of every infected tree would mean quite unheeessary destruction and loss. The point is, moreover, of little moment as far as the spread of the disease up to the present is concerned, as reinfection of fruit trees this season was due not to orchards which had been treated, but rather to contaminated hawthorn hedges in the vicinity. With reference to these hedges officers in the field are placing owners affected under notice, calling upon them to cut their hedges hack to within five feet of the ground, and otherwise to eradicate the disease prior to a fixed date.”

Tli wisdom of the Department in holding certain trees in an orchard at Otahuhu for experimental purposes has been questioned. In explanation, the Minister points out that the pruning out method, the only one which has so far proved to be of value, was held by many ,growers to be a crude way of dealing with the disease, and consequently they criticised the Department for not attempting to devise an equally effective but less destructive plan. The Department fully appreciated this contention, and although compelled to adopt generally the only known means of successfully combating the disease, decided to experiment with a hope of devising a less drastic practice. The experiments were placed in the bandsof the biological branch, which has already carried out a large amount of valuable laboratory work. Field experiments neccessnrily required affected trees to be available, and consequently three or four trees in an Otahuhu orchard wore selected, the remainder being treated in conformity with the general practice. The supposed danger of retaining the trees in question was much more apparent tlian real, as at the time the selection was made the blossoming period was well over and tho danger of a wider spread of infection had ceased. This orchard is situ-; ated many miles away from anything!' like important fruit-growing areas.Statements have been made that the' Horticultural Division in Auckland is undermanned. This could hardly have been avoided in. such an emergency, hut every effort has been made to supply the .necessary staff. For some time before, and throughout the danger period orchard instructors from almost' j every other district in New Zealand j were -assembled in the lire blight area, | together with .a large number of tern-; porary officers to assist in the work of, eradication. Operations throughout that period were under the general control of Mr W. T. Goodwin, a thoroughly

experienced and reliable officer and lat*, terly, since Mr Goodwin’s return to j Motueka in connection with the coining 1 season’s export of fruit, each district ( lias been under the control of the local orchard instructor. Throughout the whole period these officers .have had additional assistance required, and this has (been done as far as suitable men have been available. “Fruit growers, not only in Auck-

land district, but throughout New Zealand, may rest assured,” said the Minister, “that the Department is fully alive to the danger of fire blight to their Industry, and that everything practically will he done to minimise this danger. The co-operation of growers in the matter up to the present is highly appreciated. It is confidently hoped that this co-operation will l>e continued in order that the Department and growers may, hy working in harmony, obtain the most effective results.”