Proresson Krex fo Tun Hon. Tae Minister or Lannps. 
Wellington, 7th September, 1885. 
Siz, 
In compliance with your instructions received by me, when 
in Christchurch, on the 27th February, I commenced ‘inquiries con- 
cerning the various diseases of fruit-trees in the colony, and have now 
the honour to enclose an interim report containing the results of my 
inquiries, so far as I have been able to work up the material collected. 
While I regret that the report is necessarily incomplete, I may 
point out that, owing to the advanced period of the season when your 
instructions were received, my researches were practically restricted 
to the winter months; it was therefore impossible to ascertain the 
life-history of many fruit-pests, or, in some cases, even to determine 
their identity; while my stay in any one district was too brief 
to allow of the work being performed in an exhaustive manner, more 
especially as it was carried on conjointly with the important forest 
work which had been placed in my hands. 
T have satisfaction in stating generally that, although the ravages 
of insect and fungoid pests have assumed such formidable dimensions 
as to cause a serious diminution of the fruit-crop in several districts, 
the trouble has, in nearly every instance, been the result of ignorance 
of the nature of the evil itself, and of the best remedies to be applied 
in each case. Even in the present imperfect state of our knowledge 
the enemies of the fruit-grower may be kept within moderate bounds, 
and, in most instances, completely eradicated ; so that there is nothing 
in this direction to prevent fruit-cultivation from being placed ina 
satisfactory position throughout the colony. 
I have to express my thanks for the ready help and assistance 
afforded me by fruit-growers and gardeners in all districts that I have 
visited. 
T have, &e., 
T. KIRK. 
The Hon. The Minister of Lands. 
