PINUS INSIGN IS PLANTATIONS.

Manawatu Herald, Volume XLVII, Issue 2869, 9 April 1925, Page 3

PINUS INSIGN IS PLANTATIONS.

* ATTACKED BY FUNGUS. In various parts of the North Island only, several plantations of pinns insignis have been found In have been attacked by a fungus which is destroying a number of the trees. Evidence of the damage done by this fungus is lo be seen in one or two of (lie larger plantations between Feilding and Palmerston (says the M.D. Times). The tops of the trees will be noticed to be dying off, and this indicates the presence of the fungus, which attacks the roots. The fungus was discovered in a plantation on the property of Mr R. L Levin, at “West ells,” and early in the week Mr Cunningham, the Government mycologist, visited the property. It was he who attributed the damage done to a fungus, which is known to grow out of decayed native tree stumps and attack the roots of the pinus insignis. It is possible for the growth to make its appearance on one tree of a plantation, but once it gets a hold, it spreads by the roots of the tree attacked to others. The method of checking its ravages amongst any plantations which show signs of having been attacked is to isolate the trees affected through the line of trees. All the earth removed should be thrown towards the infested trees. When deciding upon the line of trench, it is advisable to take in one or two nearby trees, which may have been attacked. This is the advice given yesterday by Mr Cunningham.