THE POTATO BLIGHT.

Grey River Argus, 22 June 1906, Page 1

THE POTATO BLIGHT.

THE PRESERVATION OF THE FRUIT INDUSTRY. WELLINGTON, June 15. The Government Biologist declares that the potato crop will show a shortage for the season. The havoc this year was, in some districts, as great as last year. Many people "who had sprayed systematically had written to the department stating that they had been perfectly satisfied with the results of saving operation. In every case where persons claimed £0 have sprayed in vain, he found that they had made mistakes, either in the mixing or the application of the spray, but the chief mistake was that they di not follow the instructions to spray on the* under side of the leaf. There was no doubt that the disease attacked the under-side^ and not the | I top of the leaf.' There i was no diflui culty about sending the spray under- 1 neath, for a special nozzle was made for the purpose at a cost of only 2s 6d. _ Among the potatoes imported trom New South Wales and Victoria, during the past few weeks, there had been some consignments very badly infested with potato moth, and out of one sack sent to him, 40 per cent had been affected. A proclamation had been prepared to prohibit the importation of moth-infested .potatoes, and his document was now in the hands of i the Minister.

Dealing with imported fruit affected by the Queensland fruit fly, the Biologist says that the pest has a predeliction for stone fruits, and apples and pears. It has only a secondary liking fo* citrus fruits; therefore New Zealand has to be very vigilant -in order to conserve its fruit industry. Regard

mg the contention that the New Zealand climate is too vigorous to suffer the maggot to flourish, Mr Kirk submits that the pest established itself a Launceston, Tasmania, and required very drastic measures for its extermin ation. Moreover, experiments had shown that the maggot would be able to weather the winter in the northern parts of New Zealand, at least, for out of ao oranges placed in a- cold store for 48 hours at a temperature of 32deg. nine maggots were taken alive when the fruit was removed", ,Ques-

tioned about the Cook Islands, Mr Kirk remarked that these were part of tlv colony of New Zealand, and did not come under the law relating to imported fruit. Consignments from these possessions were - picked over, but it must be remembered that there was very little maggot in the Cook Islands. Dealing with another aspect the Biologist mentioned that the only bad fruit now allowed to be reshipped was the codlin moth apple, and he thought that the regulation would be altered. This fruit had to be returned in the first direct steamer oUt-1 wards, and could not be put aboard' coastal vessels.