THE BITTER PIT.

Oamaru Mail, Volume XXXIX, Issue 10764, 12 May 1911, Page 4

THE BITTER PIT.

, ,r BLIGHTED HOPES. [By Electric Telegraph—Copyright.] . (Per Press Association.) Received May 12, at 10.30 a.m. ,-; Sydney, May 12. • Mr Allen, the Government fruit expert, opposes the suggestion that hitter jnt T .is tne result of spraying, stating that' it' was eijually prevalent before spraying was introduced.

(Per Press Association.) .hi„; Wanganui, May 12. reference to the Melbourne cable, , announcing the supposed discovery. of a cure for bitter pit in apples, JSfciH. D. ;WilJiamson, Orchardist and Government Inspector of Orchards, ata. opinion based on 40 years' eatpefiience, in fruit-growing and experimenting .with fruit diseases that the Melbourne scientists are mistaken in attributing- the disease to codlin moth spray. He savs bitter' pit is caused by microscopic fungus. It has been common amongst apples in the Wanganui district for 50 years. The-spores of the fangus are capable of being carried maby miles, and drop upon the fruit, and; "when picked one. . contaminated dipple the whole case in three Keeks.;'"- He says that when the spores appear on .the surface of the fruit 4' : 44-50 .Bordeaux mixture will destroy them; hut' after they , have penetrated the fruit spraying is of.no use..