SPREAD OF FIREBLIGHT.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LVII, Issue 17428, 25 March 1920, Page 4

SPREAD OF FIREBLIGHT.

_» ; - > - , ~ - . ;■ FRUIT INDUSTRY MENACED. -: , ' , -.: -t COMBATING. THE DISEASE ' . ' --■-'.'.■:- ——— ' • APPEAL TO ORCHARDISTS. i

The orchard' instructor in charge of ffis Auckland district, Mr. J. W. CoHard, , has been 'actively engaged in investigating v; •. the spread of s fireblight t through tha orchards of the province since early in January- He states that the seriousness of this newly'introduced disease cannot be exaggerated, and that the fruitgrowers, must rouse themselves to assist the Horti, cultural Department, in fighting it, other. ;% ; wise there is a probability of many cam* mercial orchards being utterly destroyed, \, and the disease so firmly established that) Z : the pip fruit industry of" the province will ', . i be threatened with disaster. ~^|i%i The few officials available for carrying . .'•''. out inspection and instruction work find it •-."/-.'t impossible to cover all the widely-scattered orchards, and it is urged that local fruit. > growers with some knowledge of the dis- ". % ease should volunteer as inspectors to re. _ r . ■": port on any infected trees in their locality, ~ 8 in order that the Department may know Si what steps to take. It is suggested thai " S|| fruitgrowers' associations, and similar bodies, all through the province should ;-.g| select from among their members suitable as persons to act with the Department in '%• combating the firebhght, and communicate ""-R with the orchard instructor in Auckland i ; ?v or with Mr. L. Poyhter in Hamilton. .;§ The Haapai, Fruitgrowers' Association ■'?<?■ has already acted upon this suggestion, S: : - and has offered the services of three com- ol petent men. to act in this capacity, the - <5 Department offering out-of-pocket ex- f? penses for such work. The possible effects of fireblight are so serious, and may mean ■% such irreparable loss to orcbardiste that ifc L«* is considered all possessing fruit trees ' - should take their part in helping the De- '• • partmentel officials in their hard fight ; i against it. In doing such work they '; ? t would be only protecting themselves and ll their industry, which has never been so threatened- before. ■ " :-!