-2- 



^]v Icr.Yor the relative humidity tho gror.t'-r the rate of evaporation and 

 tcmpcraturo lov;oring of the v;ct bulb. Hence, by n^tin£; the tcnpcraturc difference 

 bctv;ccn the r/et and dry bulb themonotors the rolative humidity can bo doterrdn'-jd 

 from suitable tables. Tho tables may be obtained froiii the U, 3, '. ,oathor Bureau 

 or in liraited Mimeographed form from the Department of Pomology, University of 

 i.;assachusGtts, Amherst, Massachusetts. Infonnation concerning places -..•here sling 

 psychrometers may be purcliascd }:iay be obtained from 'cho Department of Pomology, 

 also. 



— F. 



Southrick 



***** 



* * 



liCinTOSII STRAIII3 



Are there superior strains of i'lclntosh? The ansvrer to tiiis question is one 

 in v/hich every fruit rrovror is vitally interested. 



In 1940 the Pomology Dcpartm.ent initiated a project to detenninc v;hether or 

 not there are 'superior strains of Hclr.tosh, hi orchard composed of seven selec- 

 tions of Mcintosh strains v/as plaiitcu in ly'12. Tlie strains used in the experiment 

 were Sogers and Greening L'dntosh, t-'.;e red or blush t^ncs v;hich are offered by 

 the nursery trade. The other strains v;erc obtained from grovrers or exporii-ient 

 stations and v/cre designated by niunbcr. Strains 1, 8, 12 and 45 v:oro reported to 

 be of the blush tj'pe. Strain 39 v.'as a striped t^.-pe vliich r/as included for 

 comparison, 



■Te hope the experiment r:ill find the ozisvrcrs to some of those questions. Are 

 there differences in yield, aiaount of red color, type of red color "blush or 

 striped," preliarvest crop, storage life, and quality ai.iong the different strains? 

 Other points to look for r/ill include tree vigor, differences in size and sliape 

 of fruit, and v.'l-ether or not the color tj'pe is maintained, 



Tliis v;as the first season that the orchard has produced enough fruit to mal-ce 

 observations of the different strains. Hov/ever, the crop \,as so small (4 to 8 

 bushels for each strain) tJiat araount caid t;,.'pe of red color v;ere the only points of 

 compai'ison made. The follov/ing table summarizes tJie findings of this year's 

 observations. 



From tlie table it can readily be seen that there are differences in amount 

 and, type of red color. The Rogers strain stands out as being the most highly 

 colored and it does not produce any striped apples. There are probably no signi- 

 ficant differences among stri'.ins 1, G, cjid Greening in amount aiid kind of color. 

 Strain 12, r/'iioh originated ill British Coliuabia, v;as reported to be a blush type, 

 yet nearly tv;o-tliirds of this year's crop was striped, VHiether this condition 

 continues xrlth future crops remains to be seen. It may be possible that some 

 strains are not stable and revert back to tlie striped^ condition. Strain 39 per- 



