BACTERIAL DISEASES OF PLANTS.

Dominion, Volume 2, Issue 514, 22 May 1909, Page 8

BACTERIAL DISEASES OF PLANTS.

In the bulletin on "Bacterial Diseases of Plants," just issued, the authors, tho Government Biologist, Mr. T. W. Kirk, F.L.S., and' His assistant, Mr. A: H.' Cockajrae, endeavour to bring home to, tho farmer's mind the'fact that, in' his everyday occupations, ho comes into constant contact with those; mysterious organisms which we call microbes. With these organisms in their scientifio names,; tho ' average . farmer is a profound stranger,: but, when their common "nicknames" (shall .we say?) aire mentioned, .they at onco close'in upon the fanner's recognition with a familiarity that is bound to fix his interest. Notico this list of plant microbes dealt with in tho bulletinTho bacteria of potato wot rot, potato brown rot, cucumber wilt, /white and Dlack rot ;of turnips, cabbago black rot, fire'blight of pear, walnut blight, hyacinth rot; and olivo} tuberculosis.;; V ' . 1 ' Interesting information is, given on each' of these diseases, from which it appearsthat ;wounds;are often the places where'infection first takes place.. Thus insects, play a great part. in carrying disease'/from one. plant to another. Some of the 'modes of . infection mentioned are'the following:-7- . ,;• Underground infection : such as the rots of through wounds caused by. insects, or otherwise aided by' sourness of the soil. -' j . • Pear blight.—Spread;by'be«s and other insects from one flower to another,; the stigma probably, presenting 'to the; disease germ ail entrance point as suitable - as that of • a wound. ... ' Brown rot of potatoes.—Conveyed by leaf-eating beetles.. Black rot; of cabbage.—Conveyed by leafeating insects and also admitted .through the water pores on. the edges of the leaves. 'Cucumber by leaf-eating insects. ■ . ■ - •• ' ■On the matter of remedies, which, after ■"all. is the important thing, tho bulletin is not very luminoli3. RICHMOND 'ROYAL HORSE SHOW. ;Wo have been asked by the authorities at Richmond (England) _to draw the attention of Now Zoalanders visiting England to the Royal Horse. Show at Richmond, which is to tako place on Juno 18 and 19. The show is one of the big horse gatherings of Britain, and tho turf ring at' Richmond is conceded to-bo probably the best in tho countryi.Over £2000 is paid in prizes at this show. Tho Duke of Teok, recently military attache in Vienna, i> president, and the competition for the £60 Teck Cup, presented by him for jumping by army officers,, is a famous event. No doubt any New Zoalanders interested in horses, who happen to bo in England during show timo, will find Richmond worth visiting, if their itinerary lies that way. A COSTLY VICTORY. , Messrs. Duncan, Perritt, and Son, tho Glasgow butchers, who wero. prosecuted by the Glasgow. Corporation recently for the sale of alleged unsound imported boned meat, won a most expensive victory. The Court awarded thorn SO'guineas costs, and ordered the Corporation to retilrn tho seized meat. But their total costs in defending the caso amounted to £1258 17s. 2d., so that their victory cost them a net siim of £1200.' It is estimated that the expenses on the othor side were equally great. "Mothers will find Phoephol Emulsion a novorfaillas rorncdy for coughs «wl eolda. 12