STUDY OF MYCOLOGY

Hokitika Guardian, 9 April 1929, Page 5

STUDY OF MYCOLOGY

EXPERT TO STUDY ABROAD. PALMERSTON N., April 5. Rosea roll work of great importance is to be undertaken for the Government by Dr G. H. Cunningham, at present in charge of the plant research station ai Palmerston Xortli, who leaves on April 9th. on an extensive tour abroad to study every aspect of mycology. While be will be making a close study of methods adopted in other countries. Dr Cuuningluun will investigate lalioratory construction and design for buildings which will probably be erected in Palmerston North on his return, based on the information obtained.

The primary purpose of the investigation to be pursued is to obtain in America. Britain and Europe all modern data related to plant diseases and pests, as well as their control in agricultural and horticultural production; secondly, all possible information concerning the latest methods of plantpropagation with special attention to pedigreed lines; thirdly, the whole matter of seed production is to be investigated with a view to building up an export seed trade from New Zealand. Other aspects which will receive con. sideration are botanical ecology, glasshouse management, and soil research. Special lines of investigation are to be followed into modern potato diseases, particularly virus problems, improved methods of orchard disease spraying, methods of combating cereal diseases, breeding of plants for resistance and true type, field experimentation and systematic botany. Dr Cunningham will represent New Zealand at the second Imperial Mycological Conference to be held in London next September. It is expected that his investigations will be of great value to research in New Zealand.