Black Spot Experiments, 1903-4. 765 



which the spray is applied, for the black spot fungus may get a 

 start if the spraying is delayed, and leave its mark afterwards on 

 some of the fruit. In every season there is very little absolutely 

 clean fruit on unsprayed trees in the Southern districts. In the 

 season just passed the spot was very prevalent on the trees when 

 spiwiug was done, October 2nd, though in the previous season none 

 was "observed on October 1st. Again in the season 1902-3 there was 

 very much less spot altogether, and practically all the fruit was 

 marketable. 



Spraying Results at Burwood and Highett. 



Notwithstanding the unfavorable season, and the late develop- 

 ment of spot, there were numerous instances where thorough and 

 timely spraying was attended with success. The cry was raised by 

 many that the Bordeaux mixture failed in its effect when it was put to 

 such a severe test as the past season afforded, but without going further 

 a,field than the neighbourhood of Melbourne, there were plenty of 

 orchards where sound and clean fruit,as the result of spraying, disproved 

 the statement. The photographs will give a better idea than any 

 description of the state of the trees in some of these orchards, and 

 an unsprayed tree grown in the same district will show by comparison 

 the value of spraying. 



It is constantly being repeated by growers who will not take the 

 trouble to spray, or at least to do it thoroughly, that they cannot 

 keep their fruit fi'ee from spot, but in the face of these illustrations 

 and the testimony of the growers themselves, such a parrot cry can 

 no longer be maintained. 



The unsprayed trees of the same variety and in the same orchards 

 with their badly affected fruit, in most cases not worth picking, and 

 the sprayed trees with abundance of clean fruit, which had improved 

 keeping qualities, bear eloquent testimony to the profitableness of 

 the practice. 



The Cleopatra or New York Pippin shown in the accompanying 

 plate was grown at Mr. Keir's orchard, Highett. It is generally 

 considered in this district undoubtedly the worst variety for black 

 spot, so much so that most of the trees were cut down as not worth 

 growing on that account. But a few were saved, and among those 

 sprayed the grower reckoned that all the fruit was marketable. The 

 Stone Pippin also showed abundance of clean fruit, and the grower 

 informed me that there was not a single sound apple on this tree the 

 previous season. The trees are about 20 years old, and the soil in 

 this district is generally sandy, with a clay subsoil in some cases. 

 They were sprayed twice with Bordeaux mixture of the 6'4'o0 

 formula and 2 lbs. of salt added. The first spraying took place when 

 the buds burst, and this was considered the most important ; and the 

 second when the fruit had set. 



The orchard was first visited in the middle of February, and on 

 revisiting it, I found that the Cleopatra was commercially clean as 



