DISEASE IN APPLES

Poverty Bay Herald, Volume LIV, Issue 16628, 23 April 1928, Page 10

DISEASE IN APPLES

, ONE VARIETY. AFFEGTED INTERNAL DETERIORATION A disease known, as '/hollow core,-' to which Delicious apples, arc said to bo particularly liable, was discussed at the annual, meeting of the -Auckland Provincial Fruitgrowers' Council. Some speakers stated that the pest.was so widespread that the export of Delicious apples should be .banned,, and that it would pay in the;Jong run' to eliminate the Delicious entirely from local orchards. ■■■...'■ ' Mr. W. H. Rice, orchard instructor, said the trouble- was .cl'ue to the,formation .of this variety 'of apple. In the Delicious there was an aperture extending;, from, the '.'eye," or calyx,-right to the centre .of the core. .Moisture and other..harmful -.matter could enter by tliis passage and cause a rotting of the middle. Liability to -the disease was apparently inseparable from the structure of the fruit. He considered.the pest should (be referred to an fxpert .plant pathologist for investigation. , The exterior ,pf- the fruit showed' no signs* of the condition of the core," but 'affected apples were likely to fail before 'their time.

Mr'.; W.-J. Rogers, of Huapai, said if was somewhat surprising, ,in view, of what had;-.been said, that- Delicious, ap-. pies, were by far the most popular with the general public. He would ..guarantee that four cases of Delicious were .sold to one- of any other variety. Another delegate pointed , out that there was a, steadv demand, inr Delicious in South .America, which absorbed a large proportion of (the■•Dominion's apple export,, and no complaints had been received. The executive committee was,instructed to.consult suitable authorities oil the subject. :