52 



BITTER PIT tN VESTl&A T10N> 



In Western Australia the effect of different stocks on the disease has not been tested. 

 In Tasmania the only reply concerning stocks states, " I have worked on blight-proof stock 

 and seedling stock with the same results." 



AUSTRALIAN-RAISED SEEDLINGS IN THEIR RELATION TO BITTER PIT. 



There are a number of Australian seedlings growing in the Burnley Gardens, and their relation 

 to Bitter Pit will be fully dealt with elsewhere : but, in the meantime, we are only concerned with 

 the views of growers on this subject. Only a limited number have had experience of them, and 

 they are either not particularly subject or take Pit freely. " In several instances they were pretty 

 bad." " Colonial seedlings do not suffer more than others." " The seedling we grow, Mellon's 

 Seedling, is almost free from Pit." 



In New South Wales replies the only reference to Australian seedlings is — " I have only two 

 seedlings bearing. They have no Bitter Pit." 



In South Australia there is only one reply. " It depends entirely upon their origin whether 

 particularly subject to the disease or not." 



In Western Australia the only seedling apple referred to is Western Belle, " growing on its 

 own roots, and, while winter pruned, was badly affected." 



In Tasmanian replies no references made to Australian seedlings. 



DISEASES IN FRUITS OTHER THAN APPLES AND PEARS. 



In Victoria quite a large ^number of growers have never met with it in pears, and only fout 

 have recorded it in quinces. 



In New South Wales two have observed it on quinces, and several have never seen it on 



pears. 



In South Australia one grower notes it " in plums sometimes when trees cut hard." 

 In Western Australia quite a number have not met with it on pears, but six record it on 

 quinces, and in some cases pretty bad. 



In Tasmania several have observed it only in apples, and two in quinces. 



DISEASES ASSOCIATED WITH BITTER PIT. 



In Victoria the disease most frequently mentioned is " Black Spot " or " Scab," although 

 one grower states, " I have often noticed that a tree infested with c Black Spot ' shows no sign of 

 Pit." " Woolly Blight " is noted by several, and one remarks, " If the trees are bad with Woolly 

 Aphis, then the Pit is worse." 



In New South Wales Black Spot is only mentioned, and one records " Mouldy Core" in 

 Cleopatra along with it. 



In South Australia Black Spot and " Mouldy Core" are mentioned, and also "Woolly 

 Blight." " Pit is generally worse on trees affected by Woolly Blight." 



In Western Australia quite a number of diseases were found associated—" Black Spot," 

 "Mouldy Core," "Water Core" or " Glassiness," "Bitter Rot," and "Woolly Blight." "Pit got 

 bad after trees were badly affected with aphis." 



In Tasmania " Black Spot " is the principal disease associated with it. 



LOSSES SUSTAINED. 

 It is not an easy matter to estimate the loss caused by Bitter- Pit in the orchard, since it is 

 only certain varieties which are usually badly affected, while the general crop may give a good 

 yield. In order to secure some definite data, the season of 1910-11 Wfts the one chosen for estimating 

 the loss. There were 55 out of 125 orchardists in Victoria who reported losses from that cause. 



