“Bunchy-top”
p. 88 · Read in the full issue
Queensland Defeats “Bunchy-top”
A N announcement of interest t all banana growers was mad by the Queensland Department c Agriculture in August. Th announcement raised the ban whic has been in force for many yeai against the growing of bananas i unregistered “back-yard” plantation: Early in the 1920’5, Queenslan banana plantations were hit by th disease known as “bunchy-top,” an by 1925 only four of over 100 plar tations remained in productior Strict measures were taken by th Department to control the disease Research eventually revealed tha the disease was a virus carried b the black aphid. Bunchy-top de veloped about 24 days after th aphids fed on the banana palm.
The present announcement mark the end of a prolonged and success ful eradication campaign which re moves bunchy-top from the list o uncontrolled banana diseases.
Mr. and Mrs. W. A. Boucher, o Auckland, returned in earlv Augus highly enthusiastic about thei month’s holiday in Tahiti. The' travelled by TEAL. Mr. Bouche is managing director of Speddings Ltd., Auckland.