24 THE APPLE IN COLD STOKAGE* 



Considerable data along this line will be brought out in the com- 

 parison of the same variety grown in different .sections. It has been 

 observed that the Tompkins King-, Hubbardston, and Sutton apples 

 from rank-growing young trees ripen faster than smaller fruit from 

 older slower-growing trees, and therefore reach the end of their life 

 history sooner. From older trees these varieties have kept well till 

 the middle of April, while from young trees the commercial storage 

 limit is sometimes three months shorter. 



It has been noticed that Rhode Island Greening apples from old 

 trees remain hard longer than the same variety from young trees, 

 but the oreener condition of the fruit from the older trees when 

 picked at the same time made it more susceptible to scald. Rhode 

 Island Greenings from Mr. Grant G. Hitchings, South Onondaga, 

 N. Y.. showed 50 per cent of scald from young trees on April 28, 1903. 

 and 82 per cent in smaller, greener fruit from older trees. 



Rhode Island Greening, Mann, and Baldwin apples grown on sandy 

 land ripened more rapidly than similar fruit from clay land, where all 

 of the other conditions of growth were similar. Plate IV shows the 

 average condition of Baldwin apples on April 28, 1903, grown on 

 sandy and clay soil in the orchard of Mr. W. T. Mann. Barker. 

 Niagara County. N. Y.. and stored in a temperature of 32 F. The 

 upper apple was grown on clay; the lower, on sandy soil. 



The subject will require critical study over a period of years before 

 it will be possible to fully understand the influence of various cultural, 

 climatic, and other conditions of growth on the life processes in the 

 fruit. 



INFLUENCE OF THE TYPE OF PACKAGE. 



The principal storage packages for apples are barrels of about 3 

 bushels capacity and boxes holding K) to 50 pounds. The larger the 

 bulk of fruit and the more it is protected from the air the longer it 

 retains the heat after entering the storage room. If the fruit is hot 

 and the variety a quick-ripening sort, it may continue to ripen con- 

 siderably in the center of the package before the fruit cools in that 

 position. The long-keeping varieties that are harvested and shipped 

 in cooler weather are less likely to show the effect of the type of the 

 package. The smaller package therefore presents distinct advantages 

 for the early, quick-ripening varieties and is most useful in the hottest 

 weather, as the fruit cools down quickly throughout the package and 

 its ripening proceeds uniformly. 



There is a wide difference of opinion concerning the comparative 

 value of ventilated and closed packages for apple storage. The chief 

 advantage of the ventilated pack-age appears to lie in the greater 

 rapidity with which its contents cool off. and its value in this respect 

 depends on the amount of ventilation in the package. The contents 



