FIRE BLIGHT

Otago Daily Times, Issue 18141, 12 January 1921, Page 5

FIRE BLIGHT

METHODS TO COMBAT THE DISEASE. (Peb United Press Association.) NELSON, January 11. A Mail reporter -drew the attention of Dr Tillyard, of the Gawthron Institute, to some interesting remarks made by Mr C. J. Pair (Minister of Public Health) on the subject of lire blight, in which Dr Tillyard’s name was mentioned. Mr Parr was reported to have said: ‘ ‘lt was extraordinary that scientists had not discovered a cure for fire blight. I hope experts like Dr Tillyard and the Government entomologists and bacteriologists will give their unremitting attention to the question of discovering a remedy for the pest.” Dr Tillyard made the following statement: —“Numbers of able American scientific men have attempted for many years to find a cure for fire blight. As it is a bacteriological disease, it is no more surprising to find that no cure has been found for it than that no cure has been discovered for tuberculosis. Precautions can be taken against such diseases, and the more stringently precautions are applied the more probable is it that the ravages of the disease will be reduced to a minimum. The methods likely to be effective are quick notification of the disease, and quick destruction, or the control of alternative host plants suoh as hawthorn The first two of these presents no difficulty other than the organisation of a sufficient force of welltrained officers and the keen co-operation of orchardists. With regard to the third method, the crux of the whole problem in New Zealand appears,to be the control ,of hawthorn hedges. The danger of a ' hawthorn hedge, from the fruitgrowers’ standpoint, has already been pointed out in a series of articles which will shortly be published as pamphlets.” Dr Tillyard added that he did not regard himself as a skilled bacteriologist, and could not attempt to find a remedy for a bacterial disease, A SERIOUS MENACE. UTMOST VIGILANCE NEEDED. The seriousness of the fire-blight menace to the dominion was stressed by Mr W. K. Government orchard instructor, in an address given by him to the members of the Canterbury Fruitgrowers’ Association on Saturday evening (states the Lyttelton Times). . Mr Dallas prefaced his remarks by a descripion of the life and habits of the bacterium which causes fire blight. The trees affected were pears, apples, quinces, hawthorns, and roses, and in America it was also reported that plums and apricots were affected. From this i€ could be seen that if Canterbury orchards became affected orchardists would be particularly hard hit. ’The bacteria were carried by insects, such as bees, which picked' them up on their feet from an ooze containing the organisms which came through the epidermis of affected trees. In appearance an affected tree looked as if it hod been scorched. The bacteria worked round the bark and “ringed” -it, causing the tree to die. From the rapidity with which the infection spread a whole orchard was affected in a very short time. Specimens of the blight, in scaled bottles, were shown at this stage. The only treatment, said Mr Dallas, was to burn all infected trees. If the matter were “ tinkered ” with the disease would spread throughout the whole dominion. If the best brains in America, where the disease was prevalent, could not find a remedy to check its ravages, what dhanoe had we in New Zealand'/ The great danger was that the disease would become established in New Zealand, and affect all our native trees and shrubs. At present Auckland was the only province affected, and in order to prevent the blight spreading south a protective belt, five miles wide, was suggested, extending from Kawhia Harbour to just south of Gisborne This would not be a very expensive matter, as only a few isolated groups of trees would have to_ be removed. It was only a matter of time and the disease would appear in Canterbury. Just how lonsr it would be he could not say, but it was practically certain it would reach here. It must be detected on its first appearance, and preparations made to fight it, or all our trees would be affected. The only way to keep the disease out was by vigilance and organisation, as 'had been done in certain rreas in America.

Mr .'Dallas suggested that the association should set up a ‘ire-blight protection committee, as had been done in Auckland. This committee could co-operato with the departmental officers. Honorary inspectors should be appointed, who would keep watch in various districts. By this means all trees wculd be inspected from time to time. “My advice to you,” said Mr Dallas, in conclusion, *' is organise and keep it out. - ’

Mr E. Philpot-Crowther, a visiting Australian agriculturist, said the only remedy for the disease was to stamp it right out at the start. It was no use 'waiting for the Government to take action; the fruitgrowers must act for themselves. If the disease got a footing throughout ; the dominion all types of trees would eventually be affected, and tlhe country would not be able to export its fruits or timber—its prowould bo “ taboo.” Ho instanced the disastrous effects which had followed the neglect of citrous cancer in Florida, where, instead of the famous_ orange groves written about by Charles Dickens, Jnere was not now a single orange tree. All had had to be burned to get tihe disease under.

In connection with the matter of fireblight a letter was read from the Auckland Executive of the Fire-blight Council, detailing the ravages of the disease in the northern province, and appealing for the cooperation and financial assistance of tlho various fruit-growers’ associations throughout the dominion to help the fight against the disease.

After a general discussion the members present decided that each should keep a close watdh on his own and neighbouring orchards for any appearance of the disease.