H.—34

Cold-storage Aspect of Spraying Experiments Unsprayed control fruit developed a considerable amount of ripe-spot in cold storage, but, this was reduced by 57 per cent, where lime-sulphur had been used as a fungicidal summer spray, and by almost 95 per cent, where late application of summer Bordeaux sprays had been used. Incidence of fungus diseases other than ripe-spot was not affected by treatments. \ Control of Wilt in Winter Cole and Winter Nelis Pears The test on the use of waxed paper liners as a means of reducing the loss through wilt in long-stored Winter Cole pears was repeated, with an extension of the experiment to the Winter Nelis variety. Both varieties were held in store till the end of October. The treated boxes had a liner of waxed paper round four sides, between the fruit and the standard pad that, lines the case. The ends of the box were not protected. With the Coles the controls showed 10 per cent, severe wilt and 37 per cent, slight wilt, while the waxedlined fruit had only 8 per cent, slight wilt. The control Nelis had 2 per cent, severe wilt and 28 per cent, slight, while the waxed lined sample had 4 per cent, slight wilt. The bloom and general appearance of the waxed-lined fruit were distinctly superior, and except for an increase of 5 per cent, in the loss from fungus in Winter Nelis there was no offsetting disadvantage. The treatment thus proved highly economic on both varieties. Orchard Storage of Apples Observations on the behaviour of the principal varieties were continued in three different types of orchard store. In almost all cases a semi-underground store located in a cool position afforded distinctly better storage than above-ground stores, in which temperatures were somewhat higher. Except with Statesman and Rome Beauty, the higher relative humidity of the air in the underground store did not prove disadvantageous. Appreciation is again expressed for the willing assistance given in these experiments by the Horticulture Division of the Department of Agriculture and by the Internal Marketing Division of the Marketing Department,. Ballarat.—The variety kept in good condition till the beginning of July, when the ground colour began to change from green to yellow. The lower storage temperature was again more satisfactory, and fruit picked at the beginning of May showed the least wastage. A very early picking at the end of February proved unsatisfactory for long storage. Washington.—The experiment showed that the best results should be obtained with fruit picked towards the end of April and stored at as low a temperature as possible. High storage temperature again increased superficial scald, the main cause of deterioration. The fruit remained marketable without much loss till the end of June. Rome Beauty.—Fruit of a picking made about the end of April kept firmer, greener, and with less loss than that of a mid-April picking. Low-temperature storage gave the best result, and under suitable storage the fruit kept in good marketable condition till mid-July. The store should not be damp, as otherwise secondary infection by black-spot may cause loss. Statesman.—Fruit picked at the beginning of May kept rather better than fruit picked in mid-April. The chief loss was from rots, and these were more extensive in the earlier picking. Low-temperature storage coupled with a moderately dry atmosphere was most satisfactory and enabled the variety to be held in good condition till about mid-July. Sturm&r. —The chief troubles were wilt and lenticel rots, and low-temperature storage again gave distinct control of both. The scheduled interval between first and second pickings could not be obtained, so no significant data were derived concerning date of picking. The variety kept in good condition till mid-July. Docheriy.—Fruit of a late picking made towards the end of May was very unsatisfactory by reason of a yellow ground-colour and a high incidence of lenticel rots. Under low-temperature storage: the variety held well till the early part of August, when superficialscald began to appear in the early picking. Tasma. —A picking made at the end of the first week in May kept appreciably better than a mid-April picking. Stem-end rots limited the life of the early-picked fruit. An incipient infection of secondary black-spot made it necessary to market the variety before mid-August. Low-temperature storage gave much the best results. FRUIT RESEARCH Advisory Committee.—Sir Theodore Rigg (Chairman), Dr. G. H. Cunningham, Messrs. W. Benzies, T. C. Brash, F. R. Callaghan, A. H. Cockayne, J. Corder, W. K. Dallas, A. Osborne, R. Paynter, F. S. Pope, A. M. Robertson, H. E. Stephens, and L. W. Tiller (Secretary). Apple (a) Long-term Ma.nurial Investigations.—These have been continued by the Department on its Research Orchard at Appleby and by the Cawthron Institute at Mildura Orchard, Upper Moutere. At Appleby, Cox's Orange, Dunn's Favourite, Delicious, and Sturmer yields and growth have been considerably higher when nitrogenous fertilizer has been used, and still greater when the " complete " mixture of P, N, and K has been applied. The use of 21b. nitrogenous fertilizer on Jonathan has so increased the yield that the slight reduction in colour grading is more than counter-balanced. A 4 lb. application has retarded and reduced colouring to such an extent that the fruit has had to be left late on the trees, and this is undesirable from the standpoint of keeping-quality. The time of application of N and the manner in which it is applied have again produced no differences in growth or yield. The Jonathan trees that had a heavy amplication of K in 1933 and 1934 are still giving higher yields of fruit of superior colour. At Mildura the Jonathan trees, receiving the " complete" treatment of 2 lb. superphosphate, lib. muriate of potash, and 21b. ammonium sulphate or dried blood continue

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