Analysis of replies to questions by vitbiT-GkowEits. 



IS DISEASE WORSE IN A LIGHT CROP OR A HEAVY ONE ? 



Growers are generally agreed that a light crop suffers most when the fruit is large. 



In Victoria only seven growers observed no difference, and four considered a heavy crop 

 the worst. " I have trees with heavy crops affected, and trees with light crop, generally the 

 largest fruit." " The heavier the crop, the less severe is the Pit." 



In New South Wales two growers saw no difference. " Worse when bearing a light crop. 

 Northern Spy was quite free when bearing a heavy crop last season, 1910-11." 



In South Australia, with the exception of two, who considered there was no difference, and 

 one, who found it worse in heavy crops, the growers were unanimous as to the effect of light crops. 

 "It is invariably much worse on trees bearing a light crop, and large fruit." 



In Western Australia three considered that the heavy crop was the worst affected. 11 1 

 have frequently observed that in the ' off-year ' fruit was badly affected, and in the year of ' heavy 

 crop ' the disease was hardly noticeable." 



In Tasmania four growers observed no difference, and two considered the heavy crops 

 worst affected. " It attacks both heavy and light crops." " We never have it with a heavy 

 crop." ' J 



PREVALENCE OF PIT IN DIFFERENT CLASSES OF SOIL. 



The general impression among growers is that the nature of the soil has not much to do 

 with the prevalence of Bitter Pit. At least, in Victoria nearly twice as many orchardists consider 

 that it has no influence upon it as those who do. It is generally stated, however, by the minority 

 that it is worse in wet and heavy soil, and less prevalent in poor sandy soil. " In rich soil that 

 causes rank growth you get more Pit." " It is worse where the clay is near the surface." " I 

 have noticed Bitter Pit worse on rich land badly drained than in poor soil well drained." 



In New South Wales the majority did not notice any difference in different soils. 



In South Australia it ia generally considered that the soil has an influence. " The richer 

 the soil, the worse the Pit." " It is most prevalent in rich black loams or retentive clay subsoils. 

 It is almost if not quite absent on well-drained sandy or limestone soils." 



In Western Australia, curiously enough, opinions are equally divided as to the influence 

 of the soil on the prevalence of Pit, "No difference, one tree may be clean, and the next very 

 bad." "Rich moist soil, producing good growth, are worse for Bitter Pit than light dry 

 soils." 



In Tasmania the opinions are also about equally balanced. "The Pit comes in any olass 

 of soil." " Ground that is naturally drained, and inclined to get ' hot 5 during summer, always 

 shows more Pit." 



MANURING, AND ITS EFFECT ON BITTER PIT. 



In Victoria a number consider that manuring has no effect upon the disease, but a large 

 number regard it as conducive to the disease, as it stimulates growth. Several are of the opinion 

 that stable manure is decidedly favorable to it, "Stable manure certainly increases the 

 disease." "We had one tree, Shockley, close to a manure heap, affected worse than any other." 

 Mr. Lang replies— " Have used muriate of potash, sulphate of potash, and superphosphate, 

 combined with green manuring, for a number of years (twenty years), but the manuring does nol 

 seem to have had any effect upon the disease." " When trees are not manured growth is not so 

 rank, consequently Pit is not so prevalent." Those who have tried lime generally found it to 

 have no effect on Bitter Pit, although an occasional grower found it beneficial. " I have tried 

 gypsum, £ ton per acre, and green manuring, with good results." 



In New South Wales there has not been much manuring of orchards, judging by the replies 

 sent in, but both farmyard and fowl manure rendered the disease worse. 

 0.1U40!>. d 



