MILDEW IN WHEAT.

Ashburton Guardian, Volume 58, Issue 36, 22 November 1937, Page 4

MILDEW IN WHEAT.

SOME CROPS AFFECTED. AT WAKANUI AND LAGMHOR. A small amount of mildew in wheat crops has been discovered in the Wakanui and Lagmhor areas, but the trouble is said to be only slight and should not do any damage to the yields. The spotted leaf and powdery condition which goes with mildew in crops have been noted in a number of crops throughout Canterbury, but the affection is not by any means general, according to Mr McGillivrav (chief officer of the Department of Agriculture) in a statement made to a. “Guardian” reporter this morning. The presence of mildew was first noticed about a month ago, Mr McGillivray said, and since then the condition had been found to exist right through North Canterbury. The Wakanui and Lagmhor areas in Ashburton County were those that had been affected. It was an unaccountable visitation, as mildew was usually associated with damp and muggy weather, though mildew appeared in very dry conditions in Canterbury some years ago.

It is stated that the mildew located so far is not sufficient to do much damage. The crops are looking particularly healthy generally, especially after the rain of last week, and it has been the experience that in cases like the present, where the stalk is short, there is a much less chance of disease getting into the crops than in seasons -when there is a large amount of leafing.