BITTER PIT.

Dominion, Volume 4, Issue 1140, 30 May 1911, Page 8

BITTER PIT.

MORE ABOUT THE DISCOVERY. Tho reported discovery by Dr Jean White and Professor Eirart, of Mctonn, of the cause of bitter pit in apples ha. Sot. so far as the Australian papers are S »uide. found any support in the ComThoflinister for Cu ; toms'(Mr. Tudoii referring to the investigations, faul:- i do not Sty for one nioment tha the pro J-. lem of how bitter pit is caused ha, solved, but I venture to say that a ieiy important field of obsen'ation and tin-ation has been opened up for ovoij oichardist, as well as for scientific pe - sons." Referring to the statement that bitter pit was known long before arsenate of lead was used in spraying solutions, Mr. Tudor said that bit er pit might be in nearly all apples an that it was the chemical which developed the disease. If this wore so, and lfeould be demonstrated that by not using a particular spraying substajioe, apples could be got into consumption before Iv.tter pit appeared, the discovery was almost as important as if the actual cause had itself been found. He agreed with the committee acting ill the matter that it was vise to test the new theory thoroughly before launching out on an investigation embracing wider fields. The Victorian Minister tor Agriculture. Mr Graham, is still firmly convinced that there is no cause for jubilation in the reported discovery. He says the matter can be settled ill a day if investigators will be so reasonable as to take the evidence, firstly, of their own knowledge and laboratory tests, as to the existence of bitter pit in apples still unplucked; and, secondly, the evidence that would be accepted 'in the most exacting of law courts, viz., the sworn declaration of reputable, intelligent, and educated orchardists that trees have not been sprayed for a year or period of years. "The Department," he said, "will give facilities for this to be done within 2-4 hours, and I chnlloiiEO the sponsors for the theory to submit it to such a test." Numerous letters have appeared in the Sydney and the Melbourne papers discrediting the claim that the cause of the trouble is known, and Tasmanian growers hold similar views. At Hobart the Government Botanist, Mr. L. Rodway. said it was unquestionable that bitter pit was known long before spraying was adopted. The Government Entomologist, Mr. A. M. Leas, said bitter pit had been known for centuries.