From https://researchworks.oclc.org/archivegrid/archiveComponent/1013459255: Australia's first plant pathologist. Lecturer in Biology at Melbourne University from 1884. In 1890 Daniel McAlpine was appointed to the Victorian Department of Agriculture as vegetable pathologist 'to attend to all diseases of plants that might form the subject of inquiry'. In 1911 McAlpine was assigned to the Commonwealth and State governments for four years to undertake researches into bitter pit of apples, a disease he had reported in 1900. Realising the difficulties such an investigation posed, he was reluctant to accept the post but did so 'for the credit of Australia'. He made detailed observations of the disease and published five reports but, unable to discover the cause, found himself arrayed against the Victorian government botanist Professor A. J. Ewart, who mistakenly attributed bitter pit to traces of poison in the soilLarge ledger, dark green cover, red leather spine with inscription. Bitter Pit investigation. Tracking fruit sent to coolstores 3-Jul-1911 to 30-Aug-1916. From Agricultural Department, fruit from all over the state - not just Ringwood. Some is from N.S.W. Only pages 1 & 2 scanned as examples. Specimen Book; Vegetable Pathology; Agricultural Department; Coolstore