FACTORS INFLUENCING KEEPING QUALITY. 



23 



It has been found that the wrapper may influence the keeping 

 quality in several different ways. It extends the life of the fruit 

 beyond its normal period by retarding- the ripening processes. The 

 influence of the wrapper in this regard is apparent especially at the 

 end of the normal storage season of the naked fruit when tin 1 flesh 

 begins to grow meal}" from overripeness. At this time the wrapped 

 apples may be firm and remain in prime condition for several weeks or 

 even months. The wrapper is especially useful in extending the sea- 

 son of early winter sorts, or in making the long-keeping varieties avail- 

 able for use over a still longer period of time. 



The wrapper may be useful in preventing the transfer of rot from 

 one apple to another. If the fungus is capable of growing in the stor- 

 age temperature, it is not likely that the wrapper retards its growth, 

 but when the spores develop they are confined within the wrapper and 

 their dissemination is difficult or impossible. 



The importance of a wrapper in protecting the fruit from decay and 

 in extending its season may be better appreciated by reference to the 

 following: 



Amount of decayed fruit April 29, 1903, in bushel packages. 



The wrapper protects the apple against bruising and the discolora- 

 tion that may result from improper packing or rough handling; it 

 checks transpiration, and by the preservation of the attractive appear- 

 ance and firmness of the fruit adds to its commercial value. 



No important difference was noticeable in the efficiency of the 

 different wrappers, except that a mold developed freely on the parch- 

 ment paper in a temperature of 36° F. This mold grew only to a 

 slight extent in 32° F. 



A double wrapper is more efficient in retarding ripening and trans- 

 piration than a single wrapper. A good combination consists in a 

 porous news paper next to the fruit, with an impervious wax or par- 

 affin wrapper on the outside. The wrappers vary in cost from l'<> 

 cents per thousand for news paper, 9 x VI inches, to To cents per 

 thousand for the better grades of paraffin. 



INFLUENCE OF CULTURAL CONDITIONS. 



Preliminary studies have been made on the influence of cultural and 

 other conditions surrounding the growing fruit on its storage quality. 



