STRAWBERRY GROWING.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXIV, Issue 19780, 29 October 1927, Page 12

STRAWBERRY GROWING.

UNAFFECTED BY DISEASE.

DEPARTMENT'S INVESTIGATIONS. The fruit of the strawberry plant is not affected in any way by the disease which has been causing anxiety to growers recently, according to Mr. W. H. Rice, orchard instructor of the Department of Agriculture. This reassuring information was given by Mr Rice at a meeting of strawberry growers. Nearly fifty growers weer present and Mr. T. Shepherd presided. In tracing the history ot the trouble, Mr. Rice said it first appeared in 1923 and steadily increased as to the area affected until 1926, when the department first began to investigate it. Their investigations had proved that the destructive agent was neither a fungus disease nor an insect pest, and the trouble was confined chiefly to the roots of the plants. It had become most apparent during the exceedingly wet winters of this year and the year before, and appeared to have a strong connection with the problem of drainage.

On the suggestion of Mr. Rice, it was decided to set up a committee to cooperate with the department in its in vestigations. Messrs. T. Shepherd (con vener), R. F. Hay, J. B. lonar. E. U. Walton and T Knight were appointed. The formation of a strawberry growers' association, to be affiliated with the Auckland Fruitgrowers' Council, was unanimously agreed upon on the suggustion of Mr. S. W. House, the president of the council. The following oiticers were elected: —President, Mr. E. L. Walton: vice-president, Mr T. Shepherd; commit tee, Messrs. H. Edwards, H. Glover, J. Matthews, Moller, W Geddes, C. North and J. B Tonar; secretary and treasurer, Mr. J. Dent.