ANALYSTS OF REPLIES TO QUESTIONS BY FRUIT-GROWERS. 



57 



Mr. J. Cockram, Ceres, Victoria, writes—" My own experience goes to prove that 

 a light pruning, whereby the trees are induced to bear freely, will greatly minimize the 

 trouble." 



Mr. D. Puckle, Somerville, Victoria, writes —" The only way to help to ward it off in trees 

 that are not more than eight or nine years old is to leave plenty of laterals on the outside of the 

 branches, and so run the sap off." 



Messrs. Trescowthick Bros., Angaston, South Australia, write— "Our treatment is to cut 

 the leaders very lightly, and by a judicious thinning every year, we keep our orchard practically 

 free of the disease." 



Mr. J. F. Moody, Fruit Industries Commissioner for Western Australia, has forwarded to 

 me a copy of a memorandum on the subject of Bitter Pit, submitted to his Minister on 23rd May, 

 1912. After saying " I was led to the definite conclusion that Pit is a sap trouble, caused 

 by impurities in the sap setting up inflammation or irritation of the cells," he proceeds as 

 follows:— "I found that by thorough draining, deep cultivation, heavy liming, and the use of 

 plenty of potash, as well as a dressing of sulphate of iron, the soil conditions could be greatly 

 improved, and impurities oould be neutralized and carried out of the soil in the drainage waters. 

 I also found that great benefits were derived from admitting plenty 0 f sunlight, and permitting 

 live circulation of air, by an open system of pruning." 



The proposed remedies are sometimes worse than the disease. A Tasmanian orohardist 

 brought under the notice of the Minister of Agriculture a remedy which he had found efficacious 

 for Bitter Pit. It consisted of the application to the roots of the tree of carbonate of soda or 

 washing soda, after the fruit had set, and a second application when the fruit was half grown. 

 This is the principal ingredient in what are known as " alkali soils," and is not only injurious to 

 the soil itself, but to the plants grown upon it. It bears the popular name of " black alkali," 

 because it dissolves the humus-substance in the soil, and forms an inky-black solution, which 

 may appear upon the surface in the form of black spots. 



GENERAL CONCr.CSTONN. 



After carefully considering the replies received, there are certain facts borne out by the 

 collective experience of growers. Of course, the greater the number, and the more representative 

 the orchardists, the more value will be attached to their conclusions. But, in some of the States, 

 only a small proportion availed themselves of the opportunity. Thus, in South Australia, out 

 of 83 fruit-growers to whom the circular of questions was addressed, only 21 forwarded replies. 

 Another common source of error, which renders the replies, in many instances, of little or no value, 

 is that some general treatment is applied to the trees, in the way of manuring, or liming, or 

 pruning, but no check trees are left untreated, to show what the result would have been without 

 such special treatment. 



The following facts may be considered as established from the reports received :— 



1. That the disease is much more generally distributed among apples than pears. 



2. That some varieties of apples are much more susceptible to the disease than 



others, Cleopatra being one of the worst, and Yates being least affected, if at 

 .ill. 



•'5. That the disease has been definitely known in Australia at least since 1886. 

 1. That the disease is worse on trees bearing a light crop and large fruit. 



5. That severe or hard pruning favours the disease. 



6. That the disease may occur in apples, pears, and quinces. . 



7. That the disease may appear in a wet or dry season, although the prevailing opinion 



is that wet seasons are the worst. 



