TURNIP BLIGHT.

Kawhia Settler and Raglan Advertiser, Volume IV, Issue 318, 28 June 1907, Page 2

TURNIP BLIGHT.

(to thb editor.) Sir —A letter signed “Fanner” appea- a in list Issue. The writer is right about second crop growing, but the second crop may not necessarily be a failure. The Department of Agriculture describes the disease as appearing below the crown and forming an irregular ring round the upper portion of the turnip. The turnips appear light brown and oorky, and are generally surrounded by a well defined purple margin. As the disease advances these patches crack and form deep, fissure?, which spread de3p'y into the interior of the turnip, completely ruining it. Numerous black dow then appear on the diseased patches. The dots are cone shaped and contain immense numbers of minute spores. These spores soon separate and are disseminated by various agencies, especially wind. Microscopical examination of the dry decayed tissue shows it to permeated with the hyphoemycetes of the fungus. The phomo stage of the disease is only a part of the full life cycle of seme other fungus, but wheth _-r this is correct has not yet been definately ascertained. A closely allied species, phono Mae, which is very destructive to mangold crops, is now considered to be a stage in the life history of a fungus which first appears on the mangold leaves and is known as sphoereUa braesicioecolo. The turnip fungoa will most likely be connected with some fungus which first attacks the leaves and then spreads to the roats. To leave diseased roots in the field is a sure method of spr -adiug the disease, Nappo Brasnca is the name given to a similar disease which was first described by Rostrup in I#»3 as destructive to turnips in Denmark. Therefore, if no disease is found on a first crop a second may be grown with impunity.— Yours, etc-, oparau farmee. P.s. The Department of Agriculture furnish all information ou all diseases of farm plants, bees, poultry, fruit and forest trees, vines, etc., free.—O.F.