CLUB ROOT IN TURNIPS AND RAPE.

Manawatu Standard, Volume XLI, Issue 9137, 9 February 1910, Page 3

CLUB ROOT IN TURNIPS AND RAPE.

At a meeting of Sandon farmers on Saturday evening the prevalence of the disease known as club root, or finger and too in the rape and turnip crops, was mentioned and discussed. Although the appearance of this disease is comparatively new in this country, it has been known for many years "in other parts of the world. One peculiarity of the trouble is that germs remain in the ground for several years and are likely to be transferred from one paddock or farm to another. So far only small patches have boon discovered, and as this season seems to favour its development efforts are being made to destroy the germs before the disease becomes general. Mr J. G. Wilson read extracts from two of the most up-to-date authorities on the subject in the Old Country. But as the conditions of farming there are somewhat different to those in New Zealand the same precautions do not altogether apply. The substance of the opinions and experience of the English authorities is summed up in a letter from the Director of Agriculture (Mr T. W. Kirk) to Mr F. Pearce. of Livingstone, who wrote to the Department for information on the subject. From which we quote:—The muse of this disease is a slime fungus, so small as to be perceptible only under high magnification. The spores of this minute organism can remain in the soil for several years in dormant condition ; but when suitable crop is sown in the ground they germinate, and, entering the young delicate j roots, soon multiply _ and lead to the j whole crop being affected. j The weed specimen is one of wild : .turnip (Brassica campestries) which is also attacked by club root. Treatment: Wherever practicable all the remains of affected crops should be burnt. It is of the utmost importance, that refuse consisting of diseased plants should not be fed to pigs or placed in the manure heaps. A careful rotation of crops is necessary for the suppression of the disease. Grain of all kinds, mangolds, carrots, potatoes, etc., may be grown in infected land without danger, but on no account should any of the cabbage or turnip family ho cultivated, and neglect to keep the ground clear of cruciferous weeds, such as wild turnips, wild radish, etc., will contribute largely to the spread of club root. The disease rarely if ever is foimd in land rich in lime; on the contrary, clay and sandy soils are. especially ! badly attacked." The applications of j heavy dressings of lime from four or j seven tons per acre, is the most effec- ; tual preventative known. It should • ! be worked into the ground some eon- \ siderable time before it is cropped. I When the disease appears in small ] patches, such areas should be carefully isolated and extra large quantities of lime placed on them. It this is done promptly the disease can be stamped out before any great damage is done. J Gas lime-has little or no effect on club root, and acid manures, such as superphosphate- of lime, encourage it. This fact should be borne in mind when selecting manures for lands which exhibit signs of the disease. The matter was freely discussed by the meeting, during the course of which Mr Pearce mentioned an example of the effects of phosphate ! manures in his turnip field this year. When he was sowing, he ran out of superphosphate and substituted basic slag for the remainder of the padi dock as an experiment. Not that he anticipated the appearance of club i root, but to see what difference the ! manures would make in the crop. As j far as ho could judge at present the { portion sown with basic slag is as j good a,s the other, and on that parj tieular part no trace of club root is j to be found, while the remainder is more or less affected all over.