DISEASE IN ORCHARDS.

Taranaki Daily News, 24 February 1920, Page 5

DISEASE IN ORCHARDS.

deadly blight discovered. ■'". By Telegraph.—Press Association. ■ •■ Wellington, Last Night, j The somewhat mysterious- outbreak of < l disease in Auckland and Bay of Plenty ; orchards has now been identified by the ■ biological branch of the Department o( '■ Agriculture as baeilli3 amylovorus burrill, '. commonly known in America as fire blight. This disease has been responsible "- for an enormous amount of damage to pome fruits in that country; consequent* } ly its appearance in the Dominion has ' been dreaded by those interested in tho 1 fruit industry. ; In New Zealand the disease has been ' discovered on apples, pears, quinces, and. - hawthorne hedges. In America it is also 1 known to attack medlar and various spe- ' ties of pyrus. The disease attacks and - 1 kills blossom and young shoots. It is i readily recognised by leaves withering ' and dying and remaining attached to ■ the diseased parts. At the base of tha- * mtected spurs and twigs cankers form, which rapidly spread and frequently; ring-bark a limb, thereby causing it* dsath. Where infection is severe tost tree is killed outright. As this ia a hoc* terial disease the only, known remedy is to cut away and immediately burn all the! : diseased parts. ■ r -■'