BLIGHT SPECIFICS.

Lyttelton Times, Volume LXXII, Issue 8903, 20 September 1889, Page 6

BLIGHT SPECIFICS.

TO THE EDITOE. Sie, —1 > have seen in your issue of Sept. 5 a report of the Fruitgrowers' Association of Canterbury re blight specifics, which report I read with considerable interest, expecting to learn something new. But I was much disappointed with the contents thereof. Ali they prove I have known from my own observation and the aid of a powerful magnifying glass for the last four years. The cardinal point in the report is whether the eggs which look sound after the winter dressing will hatch. In July, 1885, when I first used the specific, I observed, after dressing, that the eggs looked quite sound, and was much afraid that they would hatch when the time came; but to my great satisfaction I found they did not, bub that the trees were entirely restored to health and vigour, making strong growth and bearing abundance of fruit. I sprayed the following yea,;, which entirely cleaned the trees of ail blights. By winter dressing, you destroy ail insect life that is sapping the vitals of the tree. The egg takes nothing from the tree until it hatches, “ which it never does." Thus the tree is clean from the time that you dress, for all practical purposes. This is not only my own experience, but that of all my neighbours wno have used the remedy. How, what I ask of the Fruitgrowers’ Association is to reserve their next report until January, when they will have an opportunity of seeing the permanent effects of the several blight specifics. In asking this, I think lam not asking too much, both in the interests of the Colony and myself, as a practical and easy cure for blights is a very important question, not only for New Zealand, but for ail the world, no country being free from insect pests. Should the Association grant ray request I am sure there will be a very different story.—l am, &c., CHAELES EEDWOOD.