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In regard to Paradise stocks there was at one time a considerable 

 call for them in the trade here ; we ourselves amongst others kept 

 a large stock, but have now entirely discarded them, as we found it 

 impossible to keep them free from Blight, and it being moreover 

 a well-known fact that this insect is particularly partial to the 

 paradise root. This stock has the effect of bringing the tree 

 quickly into bearing and tending to increase the size of the fruit ; 

 it is largely used in England, where trees take so long to come 

 into bearing. But here we could not plant them under any 

 consideration whatsoever because their mass of fibrous roots gets 

 matted with Blight, and the growth does not appear free enough 

 to prevent the tree being sun burned in our climate, and it is 

 within our experience very frequently so throughout the entire 

 length of the country. 



With regard to the Blight proof stocks we have naturally taken 

 considerable interest in the matter for some years, and find both 

 the Northern Spy and Winter Majetin to be good stocks ; we prefer 

 the former for all purposes, and all our trees worked on Blight 

 proof stock are of one or the other of these two sorts. There are 

 we believe other stocks being used in this country and called 

 Blight proof ; they may be so, but the Spy has to its credit the 

 fact that it has made the apple businecs of Australasia ; and here we 

 have now had it under observation for 8 years, and have put it to 

 most severe tests without in a single instance finding a trace of 

 Blight on it. Others may have had a different experience, but 

 this is ours. However, growers must understand the limitation 

 of the Spy as a resistant stock. We believe that many think that 

 if an apple, no matter of what sort, is worked on a Blight proof 

 stock, that it will always be free from Blight ; this is not so, almost 

 all varieties of apples are subject more or less to Blight, and even 

 if worked on these stocks will be in the same proportion subject 

 to Blight that they were one ommonis, but the stock will, be always 

 perfectly clean beloiv the point where graft is inserted, and this is 

 a consideration the importance of which cannot be over estimated. 

 Blight above ground can be eradicated, and if not entirely so at 

 least kept thoroughly in hand, whereas once in the root always in 

 the root is a safe prediction. 



We have heard people in this country try and belittle the value 

 of Blight-proof stocks by explaining to planters that their trees 

 will get Blight just the same, but I trust that no one will allow 

 themselves to be deceived in this matter. 



We consider that in planting out an orchard in a new clean 

 district ordinary common stock to be in every way satisfactory 

 provided it is sold clean and is found to be so on receival by 

 planter who should examine the tree carefully, as the Blight will 

 always go into the head of the tree first and should be detected 

 before reaching the roots ; in fact, we know thousands of apple 

 "trees planted in different places within the last 6 years that are 

 still quite clean, but it needs care and a vigilant eye to detect 

 aphis on its arrival in the orchard generally. 



