■9- 



later. Both processes were almost stopped within three weeks. The rate of 

 increase in number and size of leaves on the shoots also v/as markedly inhibited. 

 On the basis of several of these tests it was concluded that under these con- 

 ditions leaf metabolism was injured from one day to two vreeks after start of 

 the flooding period. The length of time the trees could resist the effects 

 of excess water seemed to depend upon the variety, the initial vigor of the 

 trees, and the evaporating power of the surrounding air. Some trees could 

 be killed in a week, others would remain alive for tvro months. If, in some 

 cases, the water ware drained from the soil two weeks after the submersion 

 period started, the trees did not recover for two weeks or more. Some trees 

 never returned to their original status. In a number of Massachusetts orchards 

 the v;ater table v/as so high this spring as to make it impossible to get on the 

 land with a pov/er sprayer before blossoming time. It is easy to visualize the 

 handicap under which such trees are growing. They may survive and produce 

 some apples over a long period of -years. They cannot possibly produce max- 

 imum crops, however, v/here the soil is so poorly aerated even during the early 

 part of the gro\ving season. Large annual yields are associated with deep 

 rooting and good aeration of the soil. 



A slogan for Victory Gardeners - "TOED »EM AND REAP." 



HAITOLING AFFLBS FROM TREE TO TABLE 



A vj-ell illustrated publication under this title (Circ. No. 659), 

 has recently been written by D. F. Fisher of the Bureau of Plant Industry. 

 It is available from the Superintendent of Documents, Washington, D. C. 

 (price 15 cents). Following are the topics discussed: 



The grower's responsibility. When to pick apples, Criteria of 

 maturity. When to pack apples. Factors affecting condition during storage. 

 Maturity at harvest. Storage temperature. Gas storage. Atmospheric humid- 

 ity. Storage with other products. Fungus diseases. Bruising and other 

 mechanical injuries. Physiological diseases. Effects of packaging. Pre- 

 packaging for the consumer. The shipper's responsibility. The dealer's 

 responsibility. The industry's responsibility. 



We quote a few introductory statements in this Circular. "The condi- 

 tion of apples offered for sale by grocers and other retail vendors is some- 

 times disappointing to the purchaser. To the extent that the demand for 

 apples is influenced thereby it affects the market price of the fruit and 

 the returns to the grower. The factors of condition that are most important 

 are the stage of ripeness of the fruit and its freedom from decay, bruising, 

 and other injuries. Growers who invest a season's work in pruning, fertilizing, 

 spraying, and cultivating their orchards with all the care and expense neces- 

 sary to produce a clean crop of high-quality fruit cannot help being disturbed 

 by the poor condition of apples offered by retailers, which also constitutes 



