FRUIT-BLIGHTS AND DISEASES OF FRUIT- 
TREES IN NEW ZEALAND. 
(INTERIM REPORT ON, BY T. KIRK, F.L.8.) 
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INTRODUCTORY REMARKS. 
EXTENT OF INJURY. 
In the present stage of my inquiries it is not easy to form even an 
approximate idea of the amount of injury effected amongst fruit trees 
by disease, insects, and fungi. I can do little more than indicate in 
general terms the chief causes of injury in each district. 
As my work did not commence until I was on the point of leav- 
ing the Canterbury District for the North, I have at present no 
knowledge of the extent of injury effected in the southern districts. 
In North Canterbury, so far as my observations went, the most 
serious pests are scale-insects and American blight, which have caused 
a vast amount of damage. Here, as elsewhere, the peach is almost 
destroyed, and has ceased to be a profitable fruit. The pear suffers 
from slug-leech. 
In Westland, scale and American blight are, on the whole, less 
destructive than in other places. The slug-leech, however, is very 
troublesome ; and apprehensions were expressed with regard toa fly 
which is said to attack the plum and kill the young wood; but I was 
unable to obtain specimens of the insect. 
Nelson and Marlborough have suffered more than any other 
parts of the colony, and the results are of a more painful character 
than elsewhere. Many settlers possessed of small holdings have 
derived the chief portion of their income from fruit-trees; these have 
become valueless, chiefly from scale and American blight. In most 
cases the loss could have been prevented by a little timely attention, 
as both scale and blight may be easily extirpated. The codlin-moth 
has still further increased the injury; while the slug-leech has 
diminished the yield of pears and plums by a heavy percentage, and is 
increasing at such a rate that it is now attacking the walnut. The 
vine is prevented from fruiting by mildew, while canker-worm and 
other pests are still further reducing the yield of apricot, plum, apple, 
and small fruits. 
I was assured that the export of fruit from Nelson ports had 
been diminished to a great extent, but was unable to procure parti- 
culars. Bearing in mind that a large percentage of the fruit-crop of 
Nelson is produced on small holdings, this diminution of the crop in 
