COME TO STAY

Evening Post, Volume CIII, Issue 140, 16 June 1922, Page 8

COME TO STAY

FIREBLIGHT A SERIOUS MENACE

A THREAT TO FRUIT-GROWING

INDUSTRY

Dr. R. J. Tillyard, entomologist and chief of the Biological Department of the Cawthron Institute, who to-day addressed the delegates attending the Fruitgrowers' Conference, made some interesting comments regarding fireblight, and suggested the possibility of a serious epidemic of the disease in a. favourable season.

"The position in respect to this dreadful blight," he said, " is certainly a fairly hopeful one at the present time. It- is now established without a shadow of, doubt that the disease can be controlled in New Zealand in those areas from which hawthorn has been eliminated. But, where hawthorn is still allowed to exist, control is out of the question, and I want to urge you all not to slacken in your efforts to persuade the Government to deal with this most important question by defining clearly those orchard areas within which hawthorn should not be suffered to exist. Do not be lulled into a false sense of security by the belief that the disease will not spread, or will only spread by small sporadic outbreaks, like those which happened last year at Patea and in the Wairarapa. Last spring was about the most unfavourable one possible for this disease, and you may most certainly expect it to show up more vigorously and virulently when the spring weather happens to be favourable for it. Except by a miracle, this disease can never now be eradicated from New Zealand, and it is only a matter of a year or two before it will appear in the South Island. It therefore behoves all orchardists to make themselves familiar with the disease, so as to be able to notice its first appearance on any of their trees; for,, it has to be remembered, prompt action is necessary if new areas of infection are to be. dealt with successfully. ;

Dr. Tillyard pointed out that there were two carriers of the disease which would have an effect in spreading it. These were bees and migratory birds. It was practically certain that tho two isolated outbreaks last year were due to the importation of bees from the fire- . blight areas. Fruit-growers would have to see that that sort of thing was stopped ; that was to .say, not only, should there be a legal embargo on it, but also severe penalties arid strict application of the law to all offenders. It was no use having the embargo if the bees were still sent out surreptitiously, and more than that, it was of no use having quarantine laws if they were evaded. The Government needed, not opposition, but kindly help arid sympathy in its difficult task.