APPLE DISEASES 25 
and about ten years later the name bitter-pit was given it in 
that country. In the early nineties it caused alarm among 
Australian growers because of its obscure and mysterious 
nature, and finally an extensive investigation was initiated as a 
result of action on 
the part of the 
growers. First 
authoritative — rec- 
ords of stippen in 
the United States 
date back to 1891; 
it was then com- 
mon on Baldwins 
in Vermont. Sub- 
sequently it was 
found to occur in 
Canada, England, 
France, Russia, 
South Africa and 
New Zealand. In 
fact the geograph- é 
ical range of bitter- Fic. 7. — Stippen, or bitter-pit. 
pit seems to be 
coincident with that of the cultivated apple. Most damage 
is done in America and Australia. 
Symptoms. 
The fruit only is affected by stippen. The disease may be 
found toward the end of the growing-season, at least after the 
fruit is half grown; or it may not be seen until after the fruit 
has been placed in storage. Fruits approaching maturity 
seem to be in the most critical stage of their development so 
far as bitter-pit is concerned.- Its appearance amongst the 
fruit on a tree is very erratic. Sometimes only one apple on a 
twig is affected. Again, all the fruits of a cluster are pitted. 
