10 Sept., 1917.J 



Applt Culture in Victoria. 



553 



I'lcKiNG THE Fruit. 



When picking the fruit care should be taken that none of the- 

 fruit buds or spurs wliieh are to on'rv the ne.xt or succeeding years' 

 crops be destroyed. This applies more particularly to spurs near the 

 base of the leaders and to varieties which produce below the normal 

 amount of these growths. The fi-uit should be carefully handled when 

 it is being picked or packed, as bruised specimens soon commence to 

 deteriorate when stored. The fruit stalks should not be removed from 

 the apples, particularly those which it is intended to store for a long 

 period, as their removal often causes a breaking of the rind in the 

 locality of the stem. This enables the spores of various fuii^i and 

 bacteria to find a lodgment in the wounded parts, which soon commence 

 to decay. The Rome Beauty is one of those most subject to deterioration 

 of this kind. 



The Autumn Tint. 



When the trees have been relieved of their fruit the sap which is 

 subsequently elaborated in the leaves is used to complete the buildin"; up 

 of the fruit buds for the following year, and also to assist in tnaturiug 

 the young wood growths. "WTien these objectives have been attained 

 the leaves change colour and assume their beautiful autumn tint, then 

 they soon fall and allow the trees to commence their winter rest. 



{To he continued.) 



