FIREBLIGHT MENACE

Dominion, Volume 22, Issue 124, 19 February 1929, Page 13

FIREBLIGHT MENACE

♦— — . OUTBREAK IN THE SOUTH Dominion Special Service. Cliristchurch, February 18. further investigations regarding the fireblight menace were made last week by Mr, L. Paynter, Government Orchard 'lnstructor, who returned from the Kaikoura district on Saturday night. Mr. Paynter told a representative of the “Press” to-day that he had made a thorough search of the whole of the Kaikoura district, north as far as the Clarence River, and south through the inland road to Waiau. He went beyond the point where the first infection was discovered and found only three other outbreaks, which i were of a minor character when compared With the original infection, which was very severe. The three additional infections, like the first, were found in hawthorn hedges, and in no case had the whole of the hedge been found infected. The three latest infections were on one or two limbs, or a portion of a limb, or on young twigs. The infection found north of the original one was two miles away from it. The two other infections were each half a mile away' in different directions from the original one. . In no instance had he found any infected fruit trees. This was very gratifying, but did not relieve orchardists from the necessity of keeping a close and continuous lookout for the pest. The owner of the hawthorn hedge in which the original infection was found had met the requirements of the Department most courteously by cutting down the hedge (which was 50 years old) and burning it. The three new infections found last week were cut out. These were so slight as compared with the original one that Mr. Paynter feels satisfied that the infection is confined to the hedge in which the original sample was found. Some specimens of supposed fireblight received from Akaroa and the west have proved to be a sample of the work of the pear slug. “To be forewarned is to be forearmed,” Mr. Paynter said, “and there is no doubt that the spread of a disease like fireblight if orchardists are vigilant and if the first signs of infection are destroyed can be prevented to a large extent.” He hopes to eradicate the infection, and his opinion is that fireblight is not likely to become so bad in the South Island as in the North.