Bitter Pit.

Horowhenua Chronicle, 13 May 1911, Page 3

Bitter Pit.

•— —-' — r GOVERNMENT EXPERT'S VIEW. [BY BLECI?TO TELEGRAPH--COFYBIOTIT.] LPIR PREB3 ABBOTXITION.3 (Received This Day, 10.30 a.m.) SYDNEY, This Day. Mr Alien, the Government fruit expert, opposes the suggestion that hitter pit is the result of spraying, stating that it was equally prevalent before spraying was introduced. ANOTHER VIEW. WANGANUI, This Day. With reference to the Melbourne cable announcing the .supposed discovery of bitter pit in apples, Mr H. D. Williamson, orchardist, and late Government Inspector of Orchards, expressed the opinion, based on 40 years' experience of fruit growing and experimenting in connection with fruit diseases, that Melbourne scientists are mistaken in attributing the disease to codlin moth spray. He says that bitter pit is caused by microscopic fungus that has been common amongst apples in tihe Wanganui district for fifty years. Spores of fungus which are capable of being carried many miles, drop from the fruit, and when packed, one contaminated apple will affect the whole case in three weeks. He says that when the spores just appear on the surface of the fruit 4—4—50 (41bs sulphate of copper, 41bs lime and 50 gallons of water) Bordeaux mixture will destroy It, but after penetrating the frm't. spraying is of no use.