Departmental Activities. 405 



Citrus Canker Eradicatifm. — The situation may be regarded as 

 very satisfactory. Since the beginning of the campaign, in June, 

 1918, a total of 12,705 trees have been found infected. Of these, 

 9652 were destroyed during the nine months ending March, 1918, 

 2818 during the twelve months ending March, 1919, and 224 from 

 April, 1919, to March, 1920; only eleven infected trees were detected 

 during the twelve months ending March, 1921. These figures show 

 that the situation is well in hand and that the disease may be com- 

 pletely eradicated if the present system of inspection and destruction 

 of infected trees is continued. 



Adnisorij Worh. — During the month of March advice was given 

 to correspondents on the following diseases: — 



Potato diseases : Scab, early blight, bacterial wilt, drj' rot 

 (Fusariuvi sp.). Grape-tune diseases: Anthracnose, mildew, berry 

 blotch. Diseases of fruit trees : Crown gall and Corticium lactum 

 (a pink fungus attacking the branches) on apple trees; rust and 

 storage rot of peaches ; core rot of white winter Pearmain apples ; 

 pear-leaf spot ; anthracnose of citrus ; physiological troubles in quince, 

 apple, peach, and plum trees. Diseases of field and garden crops: 

 Wild-fire and die-back of tobacco ; angular leaf spot and boll rot of 

 cotton ; wilt and leaf spot of watermelons ; storage rot of winter 

 melons ; stem rot of cauliflowers ; bacteriosis of beans ; spinach leaf 

 spot; Fusariiiin disease of carnations. A root and crown rot of pine 

 seedlings has been investigated for the Forest Department, and 

 advice has also been sought with regard to fairy riugs appearing on 

 lawns. 



TOBACCO AND COTTON. 



The officers at the experiment stations have been finishing the 

 harvesting of the tobacco crop. The work has been considerably 

 retarded on account of the unusually heavy rainfall during the 

 month ; and, on account of the moist conditions, it is quite likely 

 that there will be a large percentage of dark and damaged tobacco 

 when the crop is ready to market. 



Cotton harvesting has been commenced' but on account of wet 

 weather, little progress is reported. The cotton farmers earlier in 

 the season had little or no insect troubles till the heavy rains set in ; 

 since then complaints are made of considerable bollworm infestation. 

 Unless dry, clear weather sets in almost immediately, the cotton crop 

 is likely to be considerably curtailed. The services of itinerant 

 oificers have been in great demand, and they have been unable to 

 meet all requirements. 



The breeding and selection work in connection with tobacco and 

 cotton has occupied the attention of the station managers for some 

 time. A good number of selections and strains are at present under 

 observation. 



A conference of the officials of the division was held at head 

 ofiice on the 29tli and 30th. The various papers read and discussed 

 at the conference will appear in the Journal later on. Mr. H. W. 

 Taylor, Tobacco and Cotton Expert for Rhodesia, and Mr. W. B. 

 Wilson, Agricultural Adviser to the Agricultural Co-operative Union, 

 Ltd., were also in attendance, and took part in the discussions. 



