852 Agricultural Journal of Victoria. 



conclusions could be drawn. The experiments are being repeated for 

 a third season and also duplicated in another district. 



Dr. Bull, Bacteriologist of the Melbourne University, reports as 

 follows regarding specimens of apples affected with bitter pit sent to 

 him for bacteriological examination : — " My examinations of apples 

 forwarded on March 28th were largely of a negative character as 

 regards the causal relationship of micro-organisms to the diseased 

 portions. Microscopic examination failed to demonstrate the presence 

 of any specific form of organism, and bacteria were for the most part 

 very scanty. Very few organisms developed on gelatine plates, and 

 those present were principally moulds and chromogenic air organisms. 

 It may be of interest to note that the specimens of apples have been 

 kept in a cool room at a temperature varying from 32 deg. to 45 deg. C. 

 since March 28th (four months). On examining them this morning I 

 found that most of them had completely softened and were covered 

 with a copious growth of moulds, mainly PeniciUium glaucum. Several 

 of them, however, although in direct contact with rotten fruit and 

 copiously powdered with mould spores from adjacent apples, were in a 

 perfectly sound condition except for the presence of the original 

 diseased spots. The noteworthy thing was that the original disease 

 had not progressed. If the conditions were due to bacteria per .se, it 

 is extremely probable that under such favourable conditions for 

 pathogenic action and re-infection all the apples would have been 

 destroyed. The apples which survived were Jonathans and a large 

 green apple with mottled red streaks (label lost). Several New York 

 Pippins were fairly sound." 



II.— Plant Diseases. 



During the year, 1,179 specimens were received for investigation 

 and report, not only from Victoria but from every other State of the 

 Commonwealth. Most of these specimens are of such a nature that 

 they require to be examined microscopically, and in addition a report 

 furnished as to the best methods of checking the disease. This 

 entails a large amount of correspondence, and the laboratory work 

 involved is hardly appreciated by the grower. In connection with 

 take-all alone, thousands of wheat-plants in all stages of disease had 

 to be examined microscopically and then experiments carried out to 

 prove that the fungus was the cause and not a consequence of disease. 

 The diseased plants forwarded, represented every branch of the 

 agricultural industry in its widest sense — farm, fruit, vine a.nd market- 

 garden crops — in addition to numerous native and ornamental plants. 

 With a limited staff one can only devote special attention to the more 

 important, and during the coming season potato diseases will be 

 thoroughly investigated. New and improved varieties are being 

 introduced, and treatnaent of the soil and the seed will be given for 

 the principal potato diseases described in my last annual report. 



• 



III— Publications. 



In addition to the articles which have appeared in the Journal, 

 bulletins have been issued in connection with " Take-all and White- 



