TURNIP CROPS.

Te Aroha News, Volume XXVI, Issue 43083, 18 April 1907, Page 4

TURNIP CROPS.

The disease which has worked havoc among: some turnip crops in the 'vf?" rarapa has been, recognised by Mi Kirk, Government biologist, as 1 noma - napcbrassicae Ros, which he descrr e in a bulletin issued in November, 1905 The -amphlet states that theie seems no likelihood of being able- to chock the spread of this fungus in the bulbs themselves once they have beeome infected, but much may be done in preventing the disease from spreading from season to season'. Great care should bei exercised in examining all roots when they are being harvested to ascertain if any show traces of diseases, and all such should be at once burnt. To leave diseased roots in a field is a sure method of spreading the disease. Acting on the knowledge that other species of the same genus y pass, a part of their lives on the leaves of the plant they infect, it follows that spraying with ai suitable fungicide, such mixture, might stop this disease from attacking the roots. Crops in which the.presence of this phoma is suspected should be sprayed twice! —once when the plants ate a few Weeks old, and again when they are ■ nearing maturity. The storage of the rootsJyom diseased crops should be carefully attended to. A ; thoroughly dry and well-ventilated place must be selected, for it is damp, hardly ventilated situations that provide the conditions most conducive for the rapid spread of this fungus.”