The Wairarapa Daily. THURSDAY, OCTOBER 22, 1885. FRUIT BLIGHT IN NEW ZEALAND.

Wairarapa Daily Times, Volume VII, Issue 2126, 22 October 1885, Page 2

The Wairarapa Daily. THURSDAY, OCTOBER 22, 1885. FRUIT BLIGHT IN NEW ZEALAND.

One of the most useful papers that were laid before Parliament during the lastsession, and one which deserves to be most widely read, is the report of Professor Kirk on " Fruit blights and diseases of fruit trees in New Zealand." The paper is not so exhaustive as might be wished, as tlie writer did not have sufficient time at his disposal to visit all parts of the colony, and he says, for instance, that he has but little knowledge of : the blights of the Wellington, Taranaki, and Hawkes' Bay districts, owing' to this cause. We may, however, take it for granted that, they differ little from those of Nelson Marlborough, and Canterbury, Of the two first-named Professor Kirk says: —"They have suffered more than any other parts of the colony, and the results are of a more painful character than elsewhere. Many settlers possessed of small holdings have derived the chief portion of their income from fruit trees j these have become valueless, chiefly from scale and American blight. In most cases the Joss could have been prevented by a little timely attention, as both scale and American blight may be easily extirpated. The codlin moth has still further increased the injury, while the slug leech. has diminished the yield of pears and plums by a heavy percentage, and is increasing at such a rate that it is now attacking the walnut, The vine i 3 prevented from fruiting by mildew while canker-worm and other pests are' still further reducing the yield of apricot, plum, apple, and small fruit," Fruit growers in the Wairarapa are unfortunately acquainted with ail these pests, but we know nothing of one which Professor Kirk calls " footrot," and we are in doubt whether the learnedjProfessorhas not, perhaps, got a sheep inspector to assist him in preparing his report, and that the assistant, alter the manner of Mark Twain, who calls the pumpkin " this cereal," wanted to air a little of his own knowledge, So far as this district is concerned very little is also known of the root-fungus, which, the Professor states, is the greatest scourge of the North, and which , may be found attacking fruit trees, forest trees, hedge rows, shrubs, and even grasses, from young plants in the nursery rows to trees in full bearing, with the most destructive effects, As a preventive measure, Professor Kirk recommends restriction in importation, and the careful inspection of all fruits and plants that are imported. His' reasons for this appear to be thoroughly sound, for he points out that insects freshly imported generally thrive much ■ more vigorously than congeners who are already here, He is of opinion that the proposal to appoint inspectors, with power to destroy established trees,is unnecessary, as, with the more general diffusion of information about the diseases of plants, it is not probable that such need will arise. We shall on a future occasion reprint the various remedies suggested in the'paper.