PLANT RESEARCH

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXV, Issue 23077, 30 June 1938, Page 18

PLANT RESEARCH

MOUNT ALBERT STATION

PROGRESS OF THE WORK ' - ' CITRUS AND APPLE CULTURE The wide range of work to be undertaken at the now plant research station at Mount Albert is becoming increasingly evident as growth advances in tho various experimental plots. At present, almost all tho station area is laid out with numerous kinds of-trees and plants to bo used for investigational purposes. Apples, peaches, citrus,"passion fruit, grapes and small fruit, are already making good progress. A large portion of the orchard area has been devoted to apples and citrus of various kinds for special research to discover tho most suitable spraying programmes for New Zealand conditions. Among the citrus selected aro the Lis--bon and Eureka lemons, tho Washington Navel and late Valencia oranges and tho Now Zealand grapefruit. In another section experiments aro in progress to test tho effect of various stocks on tlio growth of citrus fruit. Those at present being worked are the thorny trifoliata, Seville orange, sweet orange and citronelle. Apple Culture ! In apple culture, work of exceptional interest has been commenced. Selected stocks from the famous East Maling research station in Kent are being used with Cox's Orange and Sturmor varieties to improve both tree and fruit. Special study is also being made of the different strains of Delicious and Cox's Orange grown in the Dominion. Specimens' from all the fruit-growing areas in New Zealand are under observation to compare their bearing qualities, times of ripening and colours of fruit. It is intended to make a collection of all the chief varieties of apples grown in this country. In the station.nursery, various stocks from East Maling are being propagated. Besides apples, these. include plums, cherries, strawberries, black currants, raspberries and other small fruit. With these, it is hoped to improve the kinds already grown in tho Dominion. Plant Disease Research Extensive preparations have been made for research in the control of plant disease. Ono section, planted in a number of varieties of apples and peaches, is to bo used for testing the efficiency of commercial sprays. In others, grapes, passion fruit, strawberries, vegetables and cropping plants have been grown and to them typical diseases will be communicated to facilitate the study of causes and means of control. Experiments are in progress in connection with spot and root-rot in strawberries and club-root in cabbages and related plants. The construction of the station building, which is to contain the laboratories, library and administration offices, is advancing rapidly. It is expected that the work will bo completed about November.