EXPERIMENTS WITH A VIEW TO CONTROLLING THE DISEASE. 



85 



The orchard is situated at an elevation of about 2,300 feet, with a western exposure, and 

 there is a good natural drainage. 



I am indebted to Mr. Johnston for the following rainfall records. The average rainfall for 

 eleven years, 1901-11 inclusive, is 20 '74 inches, and for the past year it was 24*48 inches. The 

 monthly averages for the same eleven years are the following : — 



Inches. 



January . . . . . . . . . . 2 * 32 



February .. .. .. . . 1-76 



March .. .. .. ' 2'08 



April .. .. .. 1*41 



May .. 1*16 



June . . . . . . . . 1 * 64 



July 1*57 



August . . . . . . . . . . 1 * 64 



September . . . . . . . . 1 '85 



October 1*80 



November .. .. .. .. 1*61 



December . . .. .. .. 1*90 



20*74 inches. 



According to the orchardist (Mr. Grant) Bitter Pit is not so bad this season as in the two 

 preceding seasons, and it will be interesting to compare the rainfall for the critical months in each 

 season, November, December, and January, as well as the highest shade temperature during the 



summer. 





November. 



Rainfall. 

 December. 



January. 



Highest Shade 

 Temperature — 

 Summer. 





Inches. 



Inches. 



Inches. 



Degrees. 



1909-10 



1-21 



243 



7-14 



92-5 



1910-11 



•51 



2-54 



3-81 





1911-12 . . 



3*74 



3-91 



1-50 





The rainfall was much more variable and intermittent during the two preceding seasons. 



As regards cultivation and treatment of the soil, the cover crop, such as barley, is put in 

 about March, and then ploughed in about Juno, when it is coming into ear. The land is ploughed 

 again between the trees in September, and also in November. If the season favours a growth of 

 weeds the cultivator is \iscd, so that the plough and the cultivator are kept at work. 



The trees are planted on the square system, which is convenient both for planting and 

 working, at 25 feet apart, giving an average of 70 trees to the acre. The treatment with respect 

 to cultivation and pruning was uniform throughout. The trees were all sprayed with Swift's 

 arsenate of lead at the rate of 1 lb. to 25 gallons of water on 12th and 30th October respectively 

 and a spray of resin and soda was applied for Woolly Aphis on 15th November. 



The first sign of Bitter Pit in Cleopatra apples was observed on 22nd January, when they 

 were about half-grown, although previous to that, about the beginning of January, the following 

 early varieties of apples were found to be badly affected :— Devonshire Redstreak, Bentley Sweet, 

 Keswick Codlin, Coulton, Lord Wolseley, and Williams' Favourite. 



