FIRE-BLIGHT MENACE.

Taranaki Daily News, 21 June 1922, Page 8

FIRE-BLIGHT MENACE.

GRAVE WARNING ISSUED. VIGILANCE ESSENTIAL The fire-blight was referred to by Dr. R. J. Tillyard, entomologist and chic' of the bacteriological department of the • Cawthron Institute, in an address to the i delegates attending the Fruitgrowers’ Con- ' ference. He suggested the possibility of a serious epidemic of the disease in a favorable season. “The position in respect to this dreadful blight,” he said, “is certainly a fairly hopeful one at the present time. It is now established, without a shadow of doubt, that the disease can be controlled in New Zealand. in those areas in which the hawthorn L still allowed to exist, however, control is out of the question, and I want to urge you all not to slacken in your efforts to persuade the Government to deal with this most important question by defining clearly those orchard areas within which hawthorn should not be suffered to exist. Do not be lulled into a false sense of security by the belief that the disease vnll not spread or will only spread by small sporadic outbreaks like those which happened last, year at Patea and in the Wairarapa. Last spring was about the most unfavorable one possible for this disease, and you may most certainly expect it to show up more vigorously and virulently when the spring weath?r happens to be favorable for it. “Except by a miracle, this disease can never be eradicated from New Zealand, and it is only a matter ol'a year or two before it will appear in, the South Island. It, therefore, behoves all orchardists to make themselves familiar with the disease so as i to be able to notice its first appearance i on any of their trees, for it has to be re--1 membered prompt action is necessary if newareas of infection are to be dealt with successfully.” I Dr. Tillyard pointed out that there were two carriers of the disease which would have an effect in spreading it. These were bees and migratory birds. It was practically certain that the two isolated outbreaks last year were due to the importation of bees from the fire-blight areas. Frih ■ vers would have to see that that. : sort o ihing was stopped. That was to i say, not only should there be a legal emreptitiously, and more than that, it was of bargo if rhe bees were still sent out sur|no use having quarantine laws if they were evaded. The Government needecl, not opposition, but kindly help and symi pathy in its difficult task.