68 BITTER PIT INVESTIGATION. 



(2) Various stocks in screen with grafts of liable and non-liable varieties. Of the 54 varieties 

 only 8 yielded fruit, and the results are given in the following table : 



TABLE XXXIX. YIELD OF VARIETIES ON VARIOUS STOCKS. 



No. Variety. Stock. Sound Fruit. Pitted Fruit. 



5 Ribston Pippin . . Northern Spy 



6 King David . . ,, ,, . . . . 1 



7 Bismarck . . Paradise on Spy . . . . 2 



12 Cleopatra . . Duchess of Oldenburg . . 1 



16 Clerome . . . . Annie Elizabeth on Yarra Bank 1 



41 Cox's Orange Pippin Magg's Seedling . . . . 1 



53 Duchess of Oldenburg Northern Spy . . . . 4 



54 Prince Alfred . . . . . . 4 



The varieties grown in the screen and budded or grafted on to different stocks are now nearly 

 four years old. They were pruned last season about the middle of August, and this season on 5th 

 July. I have selected the most luxuriant -growing tree, viz., Blenheim Orange, and it has been pruned 

 by Mr. Pescott in order to illustrate the method of pruning adopted at this stage. Clerome of the same 

 age, but with more upright and compact growth, is also shown. (Figs. 50 and 51.) On comparing 

 the pruned and unpruned trees, it will be seen that the surplus sub-leaders have been removed in order 

 to give the tree a fair shape and to strengthen the main leaders already in existence. The centre of 

 the tree has been cleaned out to leave it open, and the lateral system has been allowed to remain so 

 as to develop fruit-spurs. Both trees have been treated alike, except that in the case of Blenheim 

 Orange, where the laterals were very long and without fruit-buds towards the tips, they were shortened 

 back. (Figs. 52 and 53.) 



SUMMARY FOR THREE YEARS. 



The varieties were, with a few exceptions, budded or grafted on to the various stocks in August, 

 1911. A number have not yet borne any fruit, and the yield, where produced, has been so light that 

 it is premature to draw conclusions. It is only when the trees have reached the regular bearing stage 

 that the influence of the different stocks on the development of Pit will become evident. 



If we select Bismarck, which has borne fruit for the last three years, and compare the results 

 obtained on the Northern Spy stock and with the intermediate stock of Paradise respectively, 

 it is found that in 1913 on the Spy stock five apples were produced which were badly pitted ; in 1914 

 25 apples, of which 7 were pitted ; and in 1915 no fruit was produced. With the intermediate stock 

 of Paradise in 1913 only one apple was produced, and it was badly pitted ; in 1914 ten apples and one 

 pitted ; and in 1915 two apples which were clean. 



(3) Cleopatra budded and grafted on to pear stock. The budding and grafting was done 

 on to seedling pears in 1913 and 1914 respectively. Since the pear is practically free from Pit in the 

 Burnley Gardens, this stock should eliminate any risk of transmission from that source. 



The two grafted Cleopatras have made fair to good growth, and the one budded has also made 

 fair growth. They will be planted out in July, 1915. 



(4) Varieties on their own roots. These are Gravenstein, Magg's Seedling, and Winter Majetin. 

 Of the six Gravensteins the growth has varied from good to fair. Of the three Magg's Seedlings the 

 growth in all is good, and in the two Winter Majetins it is from good to very good. 



(5) Reciprocal grafting of Cleopatra and Yates. The trees chosen for this experiment have 

 both died from root-rot. The experiment will, however, be repeated with young and healthy stock. 



