LESSONS O SPRING.

Wanganui Chronicle, Issue 12856, 30 October 1912, Page 2

LESSONS O SPRING.

THE CUKLY LEAF

PEACH AND NECTARINE TREES

AFFECTED

SUGGESTED TREATMENT,

(By Our Travelling Reporter.) MARTOX, October 28

The moisture and occasional warmth of the past few days have constituted ideal conditions for the spread of fungus diseases in the Wanganui and llangitikei districts. The disease becomes noticeable soon after the leaves appear in spring. The young foliage becomes crumpled, enlarged and puffed out in bladder-like swellings irregular in form ■and stretching acrces tho leaf. The variety of colour displayed by the curlod leaf is great. Iv'ot only are the leaves affected, but the tips of the young shoots aro discoloured, distorted and swollen.

Accompanying this disease, as well as others of the poach, there is often copious gumming. When the disease has culminated, the spores escape; then the leaves, which have thus far remained succulent begin to dry up, turn brown, and fall off. Other leaves follow, but these are generally less severely attacked. 'Mr Banner, of the Feilding Technical School, discussed the matter with me at Marton school farm to day, and he pointed out that in the severest e-afics the ruit falls three to four weeks after setting. The fungus spore, or organ of reproduction, he says, remains upon the buds and twigs through the winter, therefore- a winter spray of Bordeaux mixture is important at that trijie. Those whose trees aro affected are recommended to use (3lbs of blueritone, 41bs of lime and 22 gallons of water. When the leaves are on the trees, successful treatment is extremely difficult. Where practicable, diseased and fallen leaves should, said Mr Banner, be collected and burnt. Spraying with the summer strength of Bordeaux, that is, using 40 gallons of water instead of 22, may lessen the disease and prevent its spread, but of this he was a little doubtful. Tho lesson of the present Spring will show the necessity of winter spraying, and again just before the buds burst-, with Bordeaux mixture Mr Banner in the course of the chat also isaid that in bad cases, tho trees should be cut back to promote a more vigorous growth of health wood, and he further emphasis-c-A tho necessity of primings being burnt