135 



the size of the fruits, as well as hastening their ripening by fully two 

 weeks." 



In the Report for the following year the Superintendent in con- 

 tinuation of his remarks on correlation of the colouring of the leaves 

 and good fruits states "Of the fifty-five plants of the Green Ripley 

 pine with red markings in the centre of the leaf only, ten have fruited, 

 every fruit being a good one free from blemish ; the remainder of the 

 plants are now fruiting, but it cannot be determined whether these 

 will be perfect until they rip an. No more of these plants have de- 

 veloped red markings on the side of the leaf * 



"Of the eleven plants from parent with red markings on the out- 

 side of the leaf as well as in the centre, two have produced inferior 

 fruits cracked near the base and exuding gummy mxtter which at- 

 tracted large quantities of the black stinging ants, these fruits are 

 quite uselesss ; three have produced little knob3 ; the remainder of the 

 plants are just commencing to fruit, but are not sufficiently advanced 

 to enable us to form an opinion as to the quality.** 



"Of twenty-seven plants with the markings on the outside of 

 the leaf only, seven have produced little knobs, eleven have simply 

 grown with the leaves twisted round in the centre of the plants and 

 developed side suckers as though they had fruited; four have pro- 

 duced fruits which were of fair quality, although very small ; and 

 four plants produced small bad fruits,- — cracked and exuding gum. 



" The greatest care should be taken to propagate plants from those 

 having the red colouring matter well developed ani in the centre of 

 the leaves only ; plants with faintly coloured or colourless leaves, or 

 plants having leaves with the red colour on the edge of the leaves,, 

 should be avoided. 



" Red Ripley : Since observing the variation in the colouring of the 

 Green Ripley Fine Apples, I have also noticed that some hing of the 

 same kind occurs in the Red Ripley. When the colouring of the 

 leaves is particularly bright, and the leaves have not ths fine bloom 

 observable in the best type of plant, it often produces an abortion 

 similiar to those produced by the green variety when badly marked." 



In the Report by the Director 1899-1900, the question of proper 

 distances in planting is discassad. He stages " we first started to 

 plant at 3 feet apart in the rows, with rows 5 feet apart, thinking 

 that at this distance it would be possible to keep the land clean by 

 cultivators drawn by mule or horse, and so reduci the cost. This was 

 quite feasible while they were in the "plant" stage, but as th.3 plants 

 ratooned, the fruits on the side shoots weighed them down, breaking 

 off many, and exposing the side of the fruits of all to the sun, causing 

 " suu burn." Other dis ances were tried, until it was finally decided 

 that 2x3 feet was the proper distance, the reason being that although 

 the hand cultivation necessary for the first year's growth is expensive 

 by the second year the pines so shade the land that tnere is little or 

 no growth of weeds beyond a few climbers. The plants are clos^ 

 enough together to prevent leaning aud consequent sun burn." 



* All produced good fruit. 



** Two of the remaining six produced little knobs, the oth3r four rather small 

 fruits cracked at the base. 



