REGISTRATION OF NURSERIES.

Auckland Star, Volume XLVII, Issue 209, 1 September 1916, Page 2

REGISTRATION OF NURSERIES.

INSPECTION OF PLANTS. TO ERADICATE DISEASE. ' At a time when there is so much planting of fruit trees going on it is a matter of paramount importance that, all .plants should be free of disease. Under the Orchards and Garden Diseases Act of 190S proprietors of orchards have been subject to inspection in order to eradicate the disease, but now the operations have been extended to nurserymen, the object being to secure that only ! plants free, from disease shall be sold. Dnder section 20 of the Act the Govern-nor-in-Coiinc:l » empowered to make regulations, and amongst these is one " for the grading of fruit trees intended fqr sale from nurseries, and prescribing cautions in respect to the sale of such trees." Regulations have been recently gazetted, which make it necessary that any person, nurseryman or otherwise who raises for sale any fruit tree or plant must be registered. Inquiry elicited from a leading nurseryman tKe' fnf oriria,--tion that the trade welcomed-the—new regulation. " The cost," he said, "ia only £1 per annum, so that it does not mean any increase in the price of plants to "the public. The main fact of importance is that the result should be to guarantee - that no diseased plants shall be sold. Tlie Act gives the Government inspector right of entry to the nureeriee. If he finds disease he can order it to be eradicated or the plants destroyed. On the other hand, nurseries free from disease will be given a certificate to that effect. Nurserymen all realise thet it is of paramount'importance that only clean plants should be distributed throughout the country. It is at our suggestion the new regulations were imposed." A perusal of the regulations shows that they are pretty thorough. They extend to fruit, timber and shelter trees, hedge plants, rose 3, and ornamental trees or shrubs. Even tomatoes are included, while to cell includes bartering, attempting to sell, or exposing for sale. In the event of diseased plants being discovered in any nursery, then the inspector has power to prohibit the sale of the same, and direct the treatment to be used to eradicate such dieeaae.