CITRUS BROWN ROT.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXIV, Issue 19721, 22 August 1927, Page 7

CITRUS BROWN ROT.

THAMES FRUIT SUFFERS. SEVERE DAMAGE TO CROPS. [BY TELEGRAPH. —OWN CORRESPONDENT. 1 THAMES, Sunday Many lemon trees in the Thames dis trict have, during the past few weeks, been subjected to a severe attack of citrus brown rot, which has caused the fruit to decay and the shedding of a percentage 'of the foliage. In some instances that have ' recently been brought before the notice of the Government orchard inspector, Mr. P. Everett, quite 75 per cent, of the crop of fruit has been lost. Citrus brown rot, said Air. Everitt, was essentially a soil fungus, all infection coming i'rom the soil. Abundant moisture was necessary for the production of spores and, if control was to be effected, all branches within 18in. or 2ft. of the soil surface should be removed. Spraying was best it applied in the month of May, bo tore the disease became troublesome. When the rot had become established the control * would naturally not be so complete. However, if all fruit was destroyed on the first sign of iniection, and the "trees thoroughly sprayed, the spread of the disease would be satisfactorily arrested.