Some special aspects of plant protection in Tauranga parks and reserves

Abstract

In this thesis, I have not attempted to cover all diseases or pests found in Tauranga Parks and Reserves. Nor have I produced a mere routine of Parks and Reserves' plant protection. Instead, I have attempted to cover special aspects which have occurred and how we have overcome them. I have chosen, (in order to have some system and to keep things in perspective} to begin in the Nursery and follow out into the streets and parks. I have not covered descriptions of life cycles, or symptoms of pests and diseases, except where these are uncommon problems or information cannot be easily obtained in text books or publications, or the life cycle has a direct bearing on the control. I have carried out as many experiments as possible, and have taken advantage of notes I have gathered over the last five years. Since commencing employment with the Tauranga Parks and Reserves, I have been closely associated with pest and disease control, and, in the last three years, have been completely in-charge of supervision, firstly as Parks Foreman, and in the last two years, as Parks Overseer, under the directorship of the Parks Superintendent, from whom I have gained much assistance. Plant protection is an extremely complex subject, with many problems and side effects. These can be divided into four main problems, as far as Parks and Reserves are concerned, namely:- 1. Pests and diseases and damage caused. 2. Effectiveness of the therapeutants. 3. Phytotoxicity of therapeutants. 4. Unsight1y leaf residues. Upon these four main points, I have based and constructed my thesis.