10 Sept., 1917.] Apple Culture in Victoria. 545 



auspices of the different district horticultural societies. Friendly 

 rivalry or, rather, keen competitiou is the dominant factor that 

 invariably characterizes the fruit-growers' interest in the many fruit 

 sections and classes. Apples, as a rule, constitute the leading feature 

 of these shows. During seasons when the conditions congenial to the 

 growth of this fruit are .favorabh' to its development, particularly 

 through the ripening period, typical and higli-chiss specimens are almost 

 invariably staged. 



Besides ])eing of interest as a means of local and inter-district com- 

 petitions and as a source of profit to the established fruit-growers, these 

 shows afford educational facilities of high value to the less experienced 

 orchardists and to a ra])idly increasing number of other students of 

 horticulture, and particularly in relation to pomological nomenclature 

 and variety identification. By this means, also, persons interested in 

 ap]ile-growing are afforded an opportunity of studying the effects of 

 the many classes of soil and climatic conditions on the fruit of the 

 a|>ide varieties in tlio different districts, and under the methods of 

 management practised locally. These methods, it may be further 

 stated, chiefly emhra.ce cultivation, manuring, irrigation, drainage, 

 pruning, spraying, and the time of fruit-picking (local climate and soil 

 adaptability having been considered). 



As to times of picking fruit it should be mentioned that during 

 recent years there has lieen a tendency on the part of apple-growers to 

 pick certain dessert varieties for market too early. This remark has 

 special reference to the Jonathan, as many instances of the undesirably 

 early picking of this variety for local and Inter-State, as well as for 

 over.sea markets, have come under the notice of the writer. 



This practice is to be deprecated, for notwithstanding the fact that 

 on certain soils which are suitable to its cultivation, the fruit of the 

 Jonathan may become large, and perhaps prematurely assume a high 

 colour, yet, wlien picked before it lias advanced to a certain stage of 

 development Avilting of the rind and general deterioration usually set 

 in, rather than that the desirable condition of ripeness is reached. 



When selecting fruit specimens for show competition those endowed 

 with the recognised tvpical variety characteristics and of symmetrical 

 formation and colour particularly, should be chosen. They should 

 be free from blemish caused by hail, black spot, spray mixtures. 

 or codlin moth. In the case of dessert varieties the s;)ecimens 

 may be of medium size, although dissatisfaction is often caused through 

 the want of a recognised standard in this regard. Culinary sorts may 

 be large, provided the types are good. The " bloom " of the fruit or 

 the residue of the spray mixtures on the rind should not be interfered 

 with. 



Plates 124 to 120 inclusive ai-e ]iliotoo-vnphs of twelve varieties of 

 apples exliibitcd at the Itingwood Show, which was held on 17th March, 

 1017. Tlie four specimens in each dish occupy the same positions in 

 relation to each other that they did when on the show_ bench. Some 

 of these dishes are from winners of single-dish classes, while others 

 were selected from winning collections of twelve dishes of as many 

 varieties. The names of the varieties in each plate are given below it. 



The apple crop of 1916-17 was an unusually light one, and the 

 weather conditions which prevailed during the development of the fruit 

 were not of a favorable character, consequently show specimens were of 



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