16 Journal of Agriculture, Victoria. [10 Jan., 1918. 



APPLE CULTURE IN VICTORIA. 



By J. Farrell, Orchard Supervisor. 



(Continued from page 588, Vol. XV.) 



The Production of New Varieties. 



Wliile most of the better varieties of apples cultivated here are 

 importations from other countries, some have had their origin here. 

 These, however, have been produced by chance rather than as the result 

 of careful experiment in self-pollination or the cross-pollination of two 

 varieties. 



The aim of our horticulturists should be to win from I^ature's 

 inexhaustible store fruit trees endowed with qualities suitable for our 

 soil and climate. The fruit of the early ripening varieties of apples 

 at present cultivated is, on the whole, of a somewhat inferior kind and 

 not of good-keeping quality, and the production of an apple resistant to 

 black spot and bitter pit would bestow an incalculable benefit on our 

 fruit-growers. 



The zeal with which breeders of animals endeavour to improve the 

 breed of their flocks and herds is an assurance of national prosperity. 

 Recent experiments in the raising of wheats have led to the production 

 of varieties better suited to Australia than those preAdously cultivated, 

 and it is obvious that there is a wide field here for experimental work 

 in evolving apple trees that will be characteristically constituted to meet 

 local conditions. 



Owing chiefly to the crossing of certain varieties hitherto practised, 

 those now cultivated, although of fixed types and endowed with their 

 individual variety characteristics, are incapable of reproducing, even 

 from their self-fertilized pips, trees with characteristics similar to those 

 of the parents. And the ten pips of any apple. Avhether cross-fertilized 

 or not, may produce as many new varieties. Speaking generally, how- 

 ever, pips maturing from cross-fertilization should be employed in the 

 evolutionary process, as they are more plentiful and shoAv higher 

 development than those self-fertilized. 



When producing a new variety by crossing two of those at present 

 cultivated, and in order that its pedigree may be correctly recorded, it 

 is necessary to carefully remove all the anthers of the floret to be cross- 

 pollinated as soon as its petals open and before the stigmas assume the 

 condition of receptivity, so as to obviate the possibility of self-pollina- 

 tion. Care should also be exercised to prevent the introduction of pollen 

 other than that of the selected variety. 



In order to prevent insects coming into contact with the cross- 

 pollinated flowers until their fruits have set, these blossoms should be 

 enclosed in paper bags or gauze, but after this period has passed, how- 

 ever, the covers may be removed and the young fruits allowed to develop 

 under normal conditions. 



Labels bearing the name of the variety from which the pollen was 

 taken, or other necessary notes, should be attached to the twigs sup- 

 porting the cross-pollinated blossoms. 



Plate 141 illustrates the method of crossing Eome Beauty with London 

 Pippin, and vice versa. It Avill be observed, however, that the central 



