EXPERIMENTS WITH A VIEW TO CONTROLLING THE DISEASE. 



99 



9. At Burnley Horticultural Gardens, 

 (a) Bark-grafting of Liable Varieties on Orchard Trees. 



Six different varieties of apple tree were selected, known to be blight-proof, and four limbs 

 were cut away from each. On these were bark-grafted scions of four varieties, which were among 

 the worst for Bitter Pit. The stocks were Northern Spy, Winter Majetin, French Paradise, Coral 

 Crab, Duchess of Oldenburg, and Lord Wolseley. Northern Spy and Lord Wolseley are very liable 

 varieties, and they will be useful for comparison with the others. The scions were Cleopatra, 

 Annie Elizabeth, Cox's Orange Pippin, and Bismarck. They were grafted on 5th September, 1911, 

 and two were put on each branch (Fig. 125). 



All the varieties have taken with the exception of Cox's Orange Pippin, which failed on 

 Winter Majetin. On the same stock Cleopatra did not produce fruit-buds, although they set in 

 every other instance. It was noticeable that Cleopatra made the best growth in every instance 

 when an examination was made on 19th June. 



In all probability, some fruit will be produced next season, and its liability to or freedom 

 from Bitter Pit will be closely watched. 



(is) Testing the Influence of Different Stocks. 



A number of different stocks were used, on which were budded or grafted mostly susceptible 

 varieties, and planted in the bird-proof inclosure on 23rd August, 1911 (Fig. 124a). 



They were all pruned on 13th September, as shown in Fig. 1246. They were examined on 

 19th June, 1912, and generally it was found that they had all made good growth, and a number of 

 them will carry fruit next season. On Magg's Seedling and Yarra Bank stock the growth is not 

 so vigorous as in the others. 



Prince Bismarck budded on Northern Spy bore four clusters of apples on the terminal buds 

 (Fig. 132). As a result of the hot spell in January, followed by rain, the terminal buds flowered 

 and produced what is known as a second growth. 



The varieties budded or grafted on the various stocks are as follows : — 



(c) Stocks used in the General Orchard. 



. In the list of varieties subject to Bitter Pit at Burnley Gardens (Appendix V.), it will be seeu 

 what a variety of stocks are used, and their effect upon the prevalence or otherwise of Pit can b« 

 noted in succeeding years. The greater number of the varieties are worked on the French Paradise 

 on Northern Spy roots, but the following are also used : — Annie Elizabeth, Cox's Orange Pippin. 

 Ecklinville Seedling, Esopus Spitzenberg, Gravenstein, Kentish Fillbasket (Colonial), Lord Wolseley, 

 Munroe's Favourite, Perfection (Shepherd's), and Prince Bismarck. Different varieties on the 

 same stock, and the same variety on different stocks, will be compared :— ■ 



(a) On Northern Spy Stocks Direct — 



1. Cox's Orange Pippin budded on Northern Spy 2 years old when planted. 



2. Blenheim Orange grafted on Northern Spy 



3. Kibston Pippin grafted on Northern Spy 



4. King David budded on Northern Spy 



5. Prince Bismarck budded on Northern Spy 

 b. Cleopatra budded on Northern Spy 



7. Annie Elizabeth budded on Northern Spy 



(6) On Yarra Bank Stocks Direct — 



8. Cleopatra budded on Yarra Bank 



9. Annie Elizabeth budded on Yarra Bank 



1 year old when planted. 

 1 

 1 

 1 

 1 

 1 



2 trees, and 2 years old when planted 



*J ■ • 2 , , mm ka 



