THE FARMER AND THE VIRUS.

Auckland Star, Volume LXIII, Issue 121, 24 May 1932, Page 6

THE FARMER AND THE VIRUS.

Witlrin the tilc<l walls of many a quiet dustproof room scientists havo been patiently working for many years to assist the farmers of the world to put an end to pests and diseases afflicting tlieir stock arid their crops. Subsidised by the London Empire Marketing Board, a group of men have long been in search of the ultra-microscopic creatures which have, until recently, evaded the human eye, no matter how it has been aided by optical art. The virus filter-parking organism responsible for "cold" influenza anil other human diseases is smaller than ordinary light waves, and until the discovery of the new ultra-violet-ray microscope and the quartz lens the virus could neithei- be seen nor photographed. Now, however, this minute but living thing has_ been arrested and placed under observation. Viruses also are responsible for such farmer-frightening diseases as swine fever, foot-and-mouth disease and hoartwater, and vegetation plagues attacking potatoes, tobacco and bananas. The virus also affects fish. The fruition of this research work is of immense importance. It is the present extreme limit of biological study and is triumphant in effect, for when you have your enemy prisoned before you there is hope of obtaining control over him and his family. Some of the largest viruses are but little smaller than the smallest known bacteria. As ultra-violet light has a wave length about one-half that of ordinary light, the use of this ultra-violet ray has made the hitherto invisible visible. With regard to plant diseases, the virus of disease is supposed to be carried by insects, and this matter is now the subject of eager research. It seems that man has few friends compared with the host of enemies against which he lias fought in darkness of ignorance for thousands of years, submitting to famine and plague, to the destruction of his animals, his crops, hi§ health, and himself without the knowledge of his legion of invisible foes. The farmer has sown in hope and reaped in thankfulness, aiul when his ci'ops or his stock have been blighted or diseased he has named it "bad luck." and started in hope again. Now coming to his aid are scores of agricultural chemists, experts, research workers, who with more and more marvellous instruments arc opening out to him a vision of knowledge and power which promises I to make him dominant in the field and true | master of his land. —H.A.Y.