TH6 J0UHNAI9 



OF 



^fie department of Mgnculture 



OP 



VICTORIA. 



Vol. XV. Part 10. 10th Oetober, 1917. 



APPLE CULTURE IN VICTORIA. 



Bij J. Farrcll, Orchard Supervisor. 

 (Continued from page 553.) 



Blemish and Surface Inequalities of the Rind. 



It has been stated that a lower percentage of good sJiow apples was 

 produced in the 1916-17 fruit season than during previous years. This 

 shortage is to be accounted for partly by the light crop, as well as by the 

 blemish caused by black spot, which appeared in a more virulent form 

 tlian had been experienced for many years before, and whioh was caused 

 iby the unusually moist atmospheric conditions which prevailed during 

 the fruit's first stage-s of development. Another factor militating 

 against the production of the usual percentage of show specimens, and 

 also considerably reducing the value of the fruit as a commercial product 

 was the surface inequalities of the rind, for which it is assumed the 

 frecjuent heavy rains during, and for some weeks subsequent to, the 

 setting, were largely responsible. 



It is well known that the more symmetrical and better specimens of 

 the varieties are obtained as tlie result of cross-fertilization. During the 

 continuance of these rains, however, iuterpollination was practically 

 suspended, as bees and other helpful insects were unable to establisii 

 their system of ])ollen exchange between the varieties. These objection- 

 able conditions were so general during the 1916-17 fruit season that the 

 writer w-as unable to find the fruit of any variety completely immune 

 from their influence, while in many instances very contorted forms were 

 observed. 



When the ovary of an a])ple is of normal development; that is, con- 

 tains five chaniibers, and the two ovules in each of the chambers are cross- 

 fertilized, and come to maturity, uniform development of the whole of 

 the specimen will invariably eventuate. Whereas, self-fertilized ovules 



1207G.— 1 



