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Taranaki Daily News, 8 April 1920, Page 5

A SPEINO TXFECTION. Amerioa.il authorities state that fire blight is mainly a spring infection, but in the Auckland district warm autumn rains sometimes give spring conditions, and it is essential that precautions should be taken against the disease even at this season. It is emphasised by the officer of the department that where the disease exists its presence is evidenced by either dead twigs, water shoots, laterals or, in some cases, leaders, on some parts of a tree, and for this reason infection can be more easily detected when the leaves are still adhering to the trees. The desirability therefore, of immediate inspection for infection from the disease is quite evident. In this respect the services of orohardists willing to undertake the work of inspection will be of great assistance, the department offering to defray out-of-pocket expenses for such work. PEARS AND APPLES ATTACKED. The disease is known under several names, twig blight, fruit blight, blight canker, and pear 'blight, and attac'-'« chiefly the pear, apple and quince, also some ornamentals belonging to the same family. Slight attacks upon apricot, cherry and plum trees have been recorded in America, but appear to have been regarded as an occasional and minor pest. In the Auckland district, it is stated, pears, apples, quinces, and in some cases hawthorn are the only plants upon which the blight hns yet been identified. Wherever infection has been identified in this district immediate steps have been taken for the destruction, by burning, of all infected parts.

It is stated that the infection in the Auckland district apparently is as yet only slight. It is recognised by the department, however, that the utmost vigilance is necessary in order to prevent the spread of a disease that is a "*-» to aUJiiB fruiti