-3- 



and 

 boxes be stored in a rather cool and moist place during the summer ,/^hat 

 they be exposed to rain and dew in the orchard or cool shade before harvest 

 time. Soaking them by turning on the hose may be helpful. 



In the old days when apples were stored in tight barrels, shrivel- 

 ling was no problem. Our modern apples boxes, open for ventilation, favor 

 a high rate of v>rater loss. Anything that makes the box tight will decrease 

 lo3i of moisture and delay shrivelling. Shredded oiled paper, wrappers and 

 liners of all kinds serve the same purpose. One hundred and twenty five 

 special boxes were built at Rhode Island State College and compared vfith 

 standard boxes made of the same viood. Special boxes differed from standard 

 New England boxes in that they were tight. There were no slits at the bot- 

 tom and there was a solid cover. It v/as found that moisture loss was 30^ 

 higher in standard boxes when compared with the tight boxes. 



YIa.r imposed restrictions do not allov; us to uee many of the new 

 things that would improve keeping of the fruit. Two developments offer con- 

 siderable promise: Waxing and vapor-proof ceXbphane liners and wrappers. 

 Both already play a very important role in the citrus and vegetable indus- 

 tries. (The foregoing review of an important subject vms prepared for Fruit 

 Notes by Di". S. A. Pieniazek, Rhode Island State College.) 



TREATI.ffilJT FOR BORON DEFICIEIJCY 



Probably the most dependable treatment for boron deficiency (inter- 

 nal cork) in apples is a soil application of borax in a narrow ring under 

 the tips of the branches. Suggested amounts to supply per tree are from 2 

 to 16 ounces depending on tree size, (For example, a tree with a trunk 

 diameter of 3-^- inches shpuld have about 2 ounces; 7 inches - 6 ounces; 

 14 inches - 8 to 12 ounces; etc.) According to Dr. A. B. Burrell of Cor- 

 nell University, where soil applications are repeated at 3-year intervals 

 as recommended, it seems desirable to reduce the amount per tree by one-r 

 third at the second application, and probably by one-half at the third, 



■ The question has been raised concerning the possibility of applying 

 borax by adding it to one or more of the regular sprays. In Canada, spraj^ 

 applica tions have been recommended for orchards on high-lime soils, and in 

 New York and New Hampshire borax has been included in sprays on an experi- 

 mental basis. In New Hampshire, large amounts of borax v;ere used v/ithout 

 causing injury to apple foliage but in New York some injury resulted where 

 high calcium-lime yras not included in.. the spray raixtur«, A suggested pro- 

 cedure is to include borax at the rate of 2 pounds per lOD gallons in two 

 spray applications - possibly the first and second cover sprays. Unless the 

 deficiency of boron is severe, this treatment should provide protection 

 against the occurrence of internal cork in apples. 



It has been shown that an application of borax to the soil lasts 

 about three years. In some cases, protection from a single application may 

 be had for a longer period but it is hardly safe to rely on this possibility. 

 Thus, it is suggested that any orchard v;hich has shown evidence of boron de- 

 ficiency and to which borax has not been applied for three or more years 

 should be treated this season. Soil applications of borax are recommended 

 but spray applications \vill probably be satisfactory, 



— Lav/rence Southwick 



