STRAWBERRY DISEASE

Sun (Auckland), Volume III, Issue 841, 9 December 1929, Page 16

STRAWBERRY DISEASE

GROWERS ANXIOUS FOR RESEARCH PREVALENCE IN AUCKLAND An urgent petition is to be sent to the Department of Agriculture for the appointment of a fully qualified research investigator on the prevalence of root disease among strawberries in the Auckland district. This decision was made by the Strawberry Growers’ Association, which held its annual meeting in Auckland on Saturday. Root disease had always concerned producers, Mr. E. C. Walton, president of the association, explained, but this year it had been particularly prevalent. This was probably due to the wet seasons experienced. In many cases, there had been a new form of trouble. Formerly, the first traces of the disease resulted in the immediate extinction of entire beds of young plants. This had been experienced this year, but the disease had gained steadily with the advance of the season. A third form was revealed when apparently well-grown and healthy plants were killed when about to bear fruit. So many plants had been affected in England that growers had been faced with the prospect of abandoning the industry. All the evidence pointed to the disease being due to a species of bacteria ififecting the soil but inspectors of the Department of Agriculture had not detected the germ from their tests. TOP-DRESSING FAILS Several speakers said that they had top-dressed strawberry plots without preventing the disease. Mr. Walton said the facts showed the need for a competent inquiry. The chief orchard inspector for the district, Mr. L. Raynter, suggested closer attention to correct planting. Mr. P. Turner, of Turner and Growers, Limited, mentioned that the quality of the strawberry crop had not been lessened by the prevalence of the disease. Strawberries now were much better in quality than they were five or six years ago. The increase of the number of growers had kept the market steady. Mr. H. Evans, of Radley and Company, confirmed Mr. Turner’s views.