FIREBLIGHT CONTROL

Poverty Bay Herald, Volume LV, Issue 17125, 4 December 1929, Page 12

FIREBLIGHT CONTROL

POWERS OF THE ACT WAS DISEASE HERE BEFORE ? 'Since the discovery of the suspected lireblight in a Poverty Bay orchard by the orchard instructor, Mr. G. if. Melndoe, some reports have come to hand that the disease was in the district last season, but that it was not reported to tiie proper authorities. These reports were referred to Mr MeJndue this morning, arid he said lie had investigated the circumstances in connection with each of these instances, but he was unable to obtain any evidence pointing lo the factthat there had been infection in Poverty Bay prior to its discovery this season. With the present evidence to go by it would be foolish to maintain definitely that the blight was in the district, last season, and. on the other hand, it would be equally foolish to declare that it- was not.

It, was also claimed by some that the tor in the disease was taking now was tip infection, and if that were so the blight must have been in the district lor at least three years. In reply lo this, however. Mr. Melmloe stated that the disease in its present form was. not true tip infection. The tips had certainly died off. It bad commenced with bud infection, spreading lo the wood of fhe twigs and cutting off the sap supply from the tips,Which of course withered a wav..

Speaking with regard to the doubt some people have in their minds as to the true appearance of lireblight, the instructor said many people were apt to confuse it with leaf curl and the depredations of flic pear slug. A fireblighted leaf went brown without curling” up. He added, however, that if people had the slightest suspicion that lireblight was among their trees they should report the matter immediately, and he would institute an investigation. If the suspected complaint was not fireblight no harm would have been done hv til,e false alarm, whereas if the blight were in evidence immediate action may he the means of preventing a great deal of further trouble. Speaking of the powers of the Firehliglil- Act, Mr. Melmloe said that provision is made for the cutting hack of Hawthorne in infected areas to prevent flowering. The hedges must he cut hack to the hare branches from June 1 to July 31. or at any other time as may he deemed necessary, while in some instances the hawthorn may have to he. completely eradicated before July 31. Judging by an expression of opinion a, few years ago, Mr Melndoe considered that there should he no difficulty in securing the co-operation of the majority of flic farmers in fhe cutting of the hawthorn. He recalled a meeting of (lie Farmers’ Union in Gisborne prior to the declaration of this district as a commercial fruit-growing district, and the opinion expressed then was that the farmers should assist others in primary production and he prepared to cut their hawthorne if necessary. If this represented the opinion of the Farming community in the district,, then wholehearted co-opcratjion could* It> anticipated.