FIRE BLIGHT.

Taranaki Daily News, 16 December 1920, Page 5

FIRE BLIGHT.

APPEAL FOR LEGISLATION,

By Telesraph.—Press Association. Auckland, pec. 15.. >. r r. Paltridge, president of'the Auckland Central Fire. ißJight Committee, mil'.;? a strong appeal to a meeting of the executive of the Farmers' TTnibn for | its eo-operatioii to secure legislation I giving power to deal with hawthorn, in j 'which the canker of fire blight is found. li!\ Paltridge said). "I am (really afraid it is too late as far ns Auckland is concerned but it. is a matter affcetI ing the whole Dominion. Even if wo \ Auckland people have to go out of busiI '.icss there is time to snvn k'm mvliariU

, .ntnv is ume 10 save we orcliaras ( 'u the south." Replying, to a question, Mr. Palfridge said tlie Agricultural .Department thought that if hawthorn hedges were cut ;n about four feet it would suffice. Mr. Izard, secretary of the committee, said they now had about two hundred acting-inspectors. The meeting resolved that the Gorernment be strongly asked to pass the legislation necessary to combat fire blight at the earliest possible moment.

j A WARNING'.

Mr. L. B. Webster (of Webster Bros.) writes;— This disease, which has been proved to y bo a bacteria, threatens very seriously the apple, pear and quince orchards throughout this Dominion. During a recent visit to the orchards. 1 of the Auckland province, the writer:' came in close contact with some infected orchards, and a word of warning to those having a few fruit trees may not, be amiss. From enquiries and otwerva--' tjon, the first appearance of the disease is shown by the leaves and tips commencing to wilt. The tips assume a "right golden yellow appearance, and usually an "ooze" appears in a liquid state. After a day or two it becomes visible like streaks of varnish or glue. The shoots and branches then rapidly die. In the case of pears, the leaves and shoots turn black, and the apples a greyish black. The disease travels up and down the laterals, reaching the leaders, and if left untouched they would finally cover the tree, and it is estimated a 12 to 20-voars tree would be done in the short space of 2 years. Most of this year's infection is from late ijlossoming varieties. The present safeguard recommended by the authorities is to cut awav all' wood at ■east 1-2 inches below the visible infection, and paint with corrosive sublimate. If left untouched the disease forms a canker under the bark, only to commence its depVedations again with renewed strength next spring. The Horticultural Department considers the fireblight the most serious diseaso the orchardists have yet had to combat, and it behoves all growers of fruit trees to take drastic steps to destroy it should ' it make its appearance in local orchards. Outside of apples, pears and quinces it has not shown on pip fruit yet. Hawthorn hedges appear to be a favorite for the disease, and miles of hedges have already been cut out.