ORCHARD RESEARCH

Poverty Bay Herald, Volume LX, Issue 18180, 30 August 1933, Page 8

ORCHARD RESEARCH

CONTROL OF DISEASES REDUCTION OF COSTS GREATER EFFICIENCY A reduction in costs and more effective control of orchard pests and diseases should ha possible as a result of the comprehensive plan of research being conducted throughout New Zealand, including in Gisborne. The orchard instructor at Gisborne,. Mr. I'. Everett, spoke to this effect today in conversation with a reporter. He said that the scheme, which was inaugurated about three years ago, was under the control pf a committee ot experts, and embraced a wide range ol uuve'Stiga'iionali work, which included tests with various root stocks, both new and old, orchard mammal tests, new kinds and varieties of fruit and a great many orchard spraying experiments. Much of the work mentioned was bo ing undertaken at the Government plant research station, Palmerston North, and at the research orchard in the Nelson district. Replicas of the spraying experiments were being carried out in the various fruitgrowing localities throughout New Zealand, the orchard instructor in charge of the districts having Hie responsibility of arranging and supervising them, working in conjunction with local committees of fruitgrowers.

During the season just closed, 65 spraying experiments were arranged in the Gisborne district, and as a result of these tests much useful information was being obtained. As an instance, lie mentioned that it was recently demonstrated that a certain spraying formula in general use could be applied at about one-half of the customary strength without reducing the efficiency of the spray. It was found that with certain proprietary spraying mixtures the specific was of practically no use in combatting the disease it was believed to control. Certain brands of other specifics had been proved to he much more efficacious than other brands believed to be very similar.

The information gained as a result of these tests was mostly made available to the fruitgrowers, and as a result more efficient control of the various pests and diseases should be obtained, in some instances at a considerably reduced cost to the growers.