LIABLE AND NON-LIABLE VARIETIES COMPARED AND CONTRASTED. 15 



III. LIABLE AND NON-LIABLE VARIETIES COMPARED AND 



CONTRASTED. 



In studying the contrasts between liable and non-liable varieties of apples, we have chosen the 

 Cleopatra as one of the most susceptible commercial varieties grown in Australia, and Yates as one of 

 the least susceptible. But if our investigation had been more extensive, we might have included 

 Annie Elizabeth and Northern Spy among the former, and Stone Pippin and Dunn's Favourite among 

 the latter. 



Cleopatra or Ortley, Northern Spy and Yates are of American origin, and Annie Elizabeth and 

 Stone Pippin are both English apples, while Dunn's Favourite or Munroe's Favourite is an Australian 

 seedling, supposed to be a chance seedling from Stone Pippin, which it resembles. 



The chemical composition of the fruit of Cleopatra and Yates at different periods of growth 

 has been again determined, but irrigated samples of Yates were not obtainable this season, owing to 

 the failure of the crop where irrigation was practised. The wood of both these varieties has also 

 been submitted to analysis, and the composition of the ash determined in one and two year old wood 

 taken from trees in the same orchard. The rate of growth of the fruit was also carefully measured 

 under the same climatic conditions, and while this was primarily undertaken to settle the exact stage 

 of growth at which Bitter Pit first appeared, it may conveniently be considered in connection with 

 a comparison between the two varieties. 



The nature of the leaf has also been investigated in a large number of varieties, especially 

 with reference to the hairy covering on the under surface. 



Since only unirrigated apples of the Yates variety were procurable this season, a compari- 

 son will be made between them and unirrigated Cleopatra apples. 



In the green and ripe apples of Cleopatra, the percentage of juice was 96, while in the 

 Yates it was only 92. Therefore the Cleopatra is the juicier apple. The amount of ash is the 

 same in the green and ripe Cleopatra apples, but in Yates it is slightly less in the green apple. 

 The acidity is practically the same in both Cleopatra and Yates, being slightly higher in the green 

 as compared with the ripe apple. In correspondence with this, the cane-sugar content is less 

 in the green than in the ripe apple, and considerably so (less than half) in the case of Yates. 



The tannin differs but little in the green and ripe Cleopatra apples, whereas in Yates it 

 is much less in the green apple. When ripe both apples have about the same amount of tannin. 

 In the irrigated and unirrigated Cleopatra apples, the analysis shows that there is very little 

 relative difference in the amount of moisture, and Mr. Scott has pointed out that there is no 

 appreciable difference even when the investigation is carried out on an extensive scale. 



"To the ordinary man in the street it would be natural to assume that if he grew apples 

 on a tree that was left to grow under natural conditions as regards soils, climate and cultivatio^ 

 and another that was grown under artificial conditions, say with the aid of irrigation, that the 

 fruit of the latter would contain more moisture than that grown under ordinary conditions. 

 That this does not always follow is one of the results of the analysis of apples grown under both 

 conditions. The fact that no appreciable difference is to be noted is further borne out by a 

 more extended series of analyses conducted by Jones and Colver, of Idaho, U.S.A. It will 

 be sufficient here to note only the average of all the analyses of irrigated and non-irrigated 

 apples : 



