V/ar bonds are the best form of finajicial reserve ever offered to 

 Massachusetts fanners. They are promises to pay, of the strongest Government 

 in the World. Bonds are available in three different series and in different 

 denominations. Most farmers will prefer to invest in the series "E" bonds 

 which are available at ^IS^^S, $37.50, 4i75.00, $375.00, and ^750. These bonds 

 are not transferable but v/ill be repaid to the owner or his heirs if needed 

 at any time after sixty days from date of issue. If left for one year or more, 

 interest v;ill be received in addition and if they are left to maturity, in 10 

 ;rears the ovmer will j^et back v4 for every ^5 invested. War bonds can be 

 bought at most post offices and banks. --Rov E. Moser 



gOIITROLLED ATI.IOSPIIE RE STORA GE 



On September 25 the special controlled atmosphere storage at II.S.C. 

 v;as filled and sealed up. This practically air-tight room with 300 bushels 

 of apples, mostly Mcintosh, v^ill be kept closed during the storage season. 

 Ti'e plan to open this room next Llay or June. 



This method of storage operation is not nev/. It was first v;orked 

 out in some detail by English investigators and, more recently, considerable 

 grower attention has been focused on it as a result of the experiments carried 

 out at Cornell University. These experiments shov/ed that controlled stmos- 

 phere storage may be especially suited to extended storage of Liclntosh. 



Previous to this year, we have experienced some difficulties in testing 

 this system of storage. Our trouble has been due largely'' to a failure to get 

 the room "gas-tight," because of small leaks in the sheet metal lining around 

 the special door or in the "washer." 



Through normal respiration, the apples reduce the oxygen level in a 

 tight room and raise the level of carbon dioxide - much the same as people. 

 But apples caji remain alive with remarkably little available oxygen in the 

 atmosphere - as little as 1 to 2 per cent (air contains 21 per cent). The 

 carbon dioxide builds up as the oxygen in the air is utilized. Too much car- 

 bon dioxide is harmful to apples, so the concentration of this gas is con- 

 trolled. The atmosphere of the room is forced through a "washer," containing 

 a solution of sodium hydroxide which chemically removes the carbon dioxide 

 (an apparatus for testing the amounts of this gas and oxygen in the room is, 

 of course, necessary). Hence, the original oxygen is gradually used up, the 

 accumulating carbon dioxide is periodij.ally removed, and finally the desired 

 gas content of the room is attained - around Z% oxygen, b% carbon dioxide and 

 9o^j nitrogen. The low oxygen level as well as the presence of considerable 

 carbon dioxide slov; do\^m the respiration and hence the ripening rate of the 

 apples even though a 40° F. temperature is maintained. The apple s"'""" live slowly" 

 and hence their storage life is lengthened. At 40° F., furthennore, quality 

 should be improved. 



Our storage is operating successfully at the present time and results 

 this season should throw considerable light on the practicability of this 

 method of storage for Massachusetts I.lclntosh. However, for several reasons 

 including the present shortage of some essential items, any building program 

 for controlled atmosphere storages is out for the duration of the Virar. Several 

 of these storages have been operated in New York State with considerable success, 



— Lav/rence Southv^ick 



