IS IT FIRE BLIGHT?

Otago Witness, Issue 3495, 1 March 1921, Page 7

IS IT FIRE BLIGHT?

A HORTICULTURIST’S OPINION. PROBABLY TWIG BLIGHT. (From Our Own Correspondent.) AUCKLAND, February 23. Doubt as to the correctness of tihe diagnosis of the fruit pest which has been described as fire blight is raised in an article in the Herald by Mr F. R. Field, F.R.H.S. He suggests that the much-discussed blight may be only twig blight, a much minor trouble. At first, he says, the appearances of the disease were diagnostic of blight, and developments pointed more and more strongly to tihe less serious malady—twig blight,—which may be either a pest of very recent introduction, or, seeing that it characteristically varies very considerably indeed in its manifestation from year to year, it. may be merely that, though long established in the country, its remarkable prevalence this season has now forced it upon our notice for the first time, and it may be that it is merely a result of the abnormal state of the atmosphere. Certainly we had an extraordinary winter, and a still more unseasonable spring. Pear trees which took blight upon its first appearance, and received no prompt attention, are now looking quite healthy, and bearing crops of fruit. This is entirely opposed to what we read about fire blight, Apple trees, too, that showed blight unmistakably, and received no attention whatever, have remained thoroughly vigorous. All this indicates twig blight, and "if this diagnosis is correct, then in all probability the trees that suffered most this season will bear heavier crops next year; and (as with man and measles) continue more or less immune for years to come. Mr Field says there is fairly strong evidence that the present pest has been noticed) thougih to lesser extent, in the Auckland district for some few years back, without any appreciable injury to the trees or crops resulting. Indeed, one grower avers that it was in the {district 30 years ago, and such irregular appearance, and non-appearance, would be consistent with the intermittent habit of twig blight. TAPANUI FLOWER SHOW The above show, held on the 19th nit. in the Tapanui Town Hail, is one. of the most popular fixtures of the year, and was again a great success. Competition was good in all sections, and considering the adverse season the display all round was most creditable. Cut flowers and border plants were greatly beyond expectations, and vegetables were also very good both in number and quality. The school section was most attractive, and the juveniles competed keenly in the various classes. The following acted as judges:—Pot plants, cut flowers, and decorative, Air George Skene (Dunedin); vegetables and fruit. Air F. Hollingsworth (Dunedin); produce, jams, and jellies, Airs It. APDonald and Miss lie id (Waikoikoi); industrial section, Aliss Clifford and Aliss Taylor (Tapanui); school section, Aiessrs J. W. Nicholson and F. A. Thomson (Tapanui). A very fine display of Nelson-grown apples (for exhibition only) was made by Mr James Gray, of 1 lodden, Tapanui. The local brass band and Bundle’s orchestra supplied a good) musical programme, and refreshment rooms were conducted by the fire brigade. The co-ntrol of the show was in capable hands, with Air A. S. Jenkins as president, and the secretarial duties were carefully attended to by Air James Clouston. The following is the prize list in the produce industrial classes : PRODUCE. lib fresh butter, separator barred (one entrv) Mrs J. A. Steel; lib fresh butter, separator (six entries) —Miss M. Aiurney 1, Airs J. A. AtToli 2 Mrs 1). Robertson 3; plate fancy butter (two entries)—Afiss AI. A. APCoII 1, Airs D. Robertson 2; jar salt butter (three entries)—Airs Steel 1, Alio J. A. At Coll 2, Aliss Aiurney 3; home-made bread, white (five entries) —Aliss Braudigam 1 and 3, Airs W. W. Alackie 2 ; home-made bread, brown (two entries)—Airs \Y. W. Alackie 1, Aliss P. Umith 2; plain scones, oven (three entries)— Miss Brnndignin 1 and 2, Airs E. Arnold 3; plain scones, girdle (three entries) —Miss At. Keir 1 and 2, Atrajjk Arnold 3; fancy scones (five entries) — Miss P.raudigani 1 and 2, Airs Stuart 3; apple (three entries)—Miss Braudigam 1 and 2; • ri| h cake, light colour (five entries)—-Miss M. Clabburn 1, Airs A. ,S. Jenkins 2, Mrs M. Robertson 3; fruit cake, dark (two entries) —Aliss Perry 1. Miss AI. Clabburn 2; sytonge cake (five en*tries ) - -Airs Alackie 1, Miss M. Keir 2, Aliss Braudigam 3; sponge rull (four entries)—Miss Brandi earn 1 and 2, Miss F. Sheddan 3; sponge sandwich (five entries) — Miss Braudigam 1 and 3, Miss AI. Robertson 2* marble cake (three entries)—Miss J. Smith I,’ Aliss Braudigam 2. Airs F, Arnold 3; coffee e;ike (throe entries)—Airs AI. Robertson 1. Miss Braudigam 2 and 3; six pikelets (five entries)—Mrs Burt 1,2, and 3; six gems (one entry) Airs P. Ma.laghan ; plate shortbread (five entries)—Airs W. Alason 1. Aliss Mackie 2, Miss Ferguson 3; gingerbread (three entries) — Miss Braudigam 1 and 2, Alisa J. Smith 3; rW.cn heaviest hen (one entry)-Mrs P. Malaghnn; bottled sauc-'s (one entry)—Airs J. A. ArColl • bottled fruit (two entries) —Airs W. Mason 1. Mrs Beadle 2; three lib sections honey, in comb (one entry)—Miss Quin: bottle honey, extracted (three entries) —Afrs J. IT. White 1, Miss Quin 2 and 3; three bottles home-made pickles (one entry)— Mrs J. A. M'Coll; ham, smoked (two entries) — A. J. Stiven 1, Miss Quin 2.

INDUSTRIAL. Specimen wood carving, relief (one entry)— J. J. Shanks; specimen handiwork in wool (two entries) —Mrs N. Aloore 1 and 2 ; knitting, pair sox, fine wool (four entries) —Airs R. A. Rodger 1, Mrs R. J. Patterson 2, Miss Mackie 3; knitting, pair sox, coarse wool (three entries) —Airs A. Gray 1 and 2, Mrs N. Moore 3; oil colour painting, fruit (one entry)—Aliss L. Aloore; oil colour painting, flowers (one entry)—Airs J. L. Wylie; oil colour painting, landscape (two entries) —Alts J. L. Wylie 1, Airs Al‘Kee 2; painted panel (two entries) —Aliss L. Davidson 1, Airs MTCee 2; three photographic views (three entries) —A. J. Shanks 1 and 2; three photographic views, pocket kodak (two entries) —J. A. Whiteley 1 and 2; inountmeilick work (seven entries) — Airs Craigie 1, Airs C, Duff 2, Airs N. Moore 3; eyelet work (one entry) —Aliss Perry; embroidery rnountraellick work (two entries) —Mrs N. Moore 1, Miss AI. Keir 2; fancy crochet work in cotton, washed (two entries) —Mrs E. A. Alason 1 and 2; six worked buttonholes (two entries) —Miss L. Whyte 1, Mrs Braudigam 2; table centre (two entries) —Miss AI. Keir 1 and 2; serviettes, different designs, arranged for dinner table (one entry)—Airs N. Moore; cushion (one entry)— Aliss J. Redditt; bead work (two entries) —Miss Reddit 1, Mrs E. A. Mason 2; pair d’oyle.vs (four entries)—Airs Braudigam 1 ‘and 2, Mrs is T . Aloore 3; camisole top (three entries) —Aliss J. Redditt 1, Miss Henderson 2; pen and ink sketches (one entry)—Miss A. Mackenzie; pen and ink caricatures (one entry)—Aliss A. Mackenzie; most points—Airs N. Aloore.