THE TURNIP DISEASE.

Bay of Plenty Times, Volume XXXVIII, Issue 5489, 30 March 1910, Page 4

THE TURNIP DISEASE.

o 1 Turnip crops in the Waikato district, have, during the past two weeks, been severely attacked by a* new disease, which is commonly referred to as the "Wairavapa disease," having been known in that district for past two seasons. Crops which gave promise of a heavy yield are dying off rapidly, and unless the cold snap proves a check, the whole of tbe turnip crop in the- district, which was largely relied on for winter feeding, is likely to be wiped oat. A peculiarity of the disease is that it is most severe on the healthiestlooking crops. The first indicatiors are a cbange in the colour of tbe leaves, which wither away. Then the tubers rot in the ground. There has never before been such a large area sown in turnips in tbo Waikato as this season, newcomers from the South having seen the advantage of the crop for winter feeding. At present fted is plentiful, the season having been an abnormal one, but if the winter is early and severe, tbe loss of the turnips cannot fail to have a prejudicial effect on stock.