FRUIT AFFECTED WITH BLACK SPOT

Dominion, Volume 12, Issue 204, 23 May 1919, Page 10

FRUIT AFFECTED WITH BLACK SPOT

Mr. E. Oswald Keilly, writing to the "Otftgo Daily Tiroes" say's:—"! nole that Mr. Kirk, the head of tho Pomologist Department, states that" black spot is eitsilv 'controlled by orcharding who appiied inteUigently the remedies suggested bv our Department.' Amongst our consignors are a , number of the most in-, lelligent fruitgrowers in New Zealandpeople who, wo know -from experience, spray as often as four or five times per year and-notwithstanding.all the pro cautions taken black spot is hard to control; fn fact, in fiome low-lying districts practically impossible. Yet the. Government persist-s in condemning fruit which is only slightly affected, though black spot ii really a eliin disease only, and tho fruit is of really chpico quality. If the Government took in hand the condemnation of fruit affected with bitter pit it would be doing some real service to the frait-corisumiuj; public, as fruit affected with bitter pit means many disappointed purchasers, and consequently a bad advertisement for the fruit trade generally. Mr. Kirk states that in the Auckland district the Horticultural Division supplied full particulars of spraying for black spot, with_ the result that 98 per cent of clenn fruit was harvested. Now, the Government has in6pectors continually going round, imd if they have a formula which gives such glowing results, why not make it public? Personally, 1 have sprayed with red oil, Milestone. Bordeaux mixture (as recommended by tho Government), but I rcKret that black spot is'very much in evidence this smson." ,