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of Mcintosh apples in retail stores o To date samples have been collected in stores 

 from ^^/illiamstcmn to Nev/buryport and also in the Fall River_» Nev/ Bedford area. The 

 Boston, Worcester and Springfield areas v/ill be covered during the month of January- 

 After collecting the samples they are brought to Amherst in a container especi- 

 ally constructed to avoid further bruising. They are temporarily held in cold stor- 

 age and within kQ hours each lot is examined for grade, cause of apples to be below 

 Fancy grade, number of bruises, holes, cuts and cracks. Firmness, sugar content and 

 amount of waste due to blemishes are then determined, Yifhen the apples are obtained 

 at the store, additional information is obtained such as method of display, type of 

 container in vfhich fruit was received, method of refrigeration in the store, if any, 

 and method of purchase, 



Ysfhile it v;ould be premature at t his time to evaluate results obtained thus far, 

 the absence of insect and disease blemishes is worthy of note. This would indicate 

 that growers and packers are either carefully eliminating apples v;ith these blemishes 

 when doing the grading, or growers are doing an excellent job in controlling insect 

 and disease pests in the orchard. 



It is anticipated that the results of this survey will indicate the direction 

 that future research on the handling of Mcintosh apples should take, 



0,C»Roberts 



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Through the Years vath FRUIT NOTES - The first issue of FRUIT NOTES appeared along 

 with the flood in the Connecticut Valley, in March, 19368 More than 1^0 issues have 

 been distributed since that time. The mailing list hovered around 1000 during the 

 early years and in recent years has, g<iie^s high as 1700, including quite a number of 

 individuals out of state. Non-residents in educational work have obtained it free 

 of charge while other out-of -staters have paid a small charge to cover mailing costs. 

 SeTreral years ago an individual in South America paid his subscription 10 years in 

 advance, FRUIT NOTES, in conformity with the franking privilege, has carried no ad- 

 vertising material and has had this one simple objective, - to convey to the reader 

 in understandable langiiage useful information about fruits. New developments have 

 been presented from time to time, with enough of miscellaDeous items to make the 

 , reading less boresome. One of the biggest ocmpliments we have ever received came 

 from the late Thomas Rorrie of Gay Farm in Westvfood, Arriving at the farm one day 

 with the county agent we found our good Scottish friend at his mailbox, reading some- 

 thing. Believe it or not, it vras FRUIT NOTES, Vi[hen we expressed surprise that this 

 humble document would take precedence over t he daily newspaper, he said "I have on 

 file every copy that has appeared thus far". If FRUIT NOTES has added here and there 

 to an understanding of the many complex problems in the fruit business, and especially 

 if it has made the fruitgrower's job a little easier, mere enjoyable or more profit- 

 able, its mission has been accomplished*, The retiring editor has had a lot of fun 

 with FRUIT NOTES since 1936, He has also had many good cooperators who have contri- 

 buted much to its store of Informationo To them our hearty thanks, and to the many 

 readers our sincere wish that your efforts along fruit lines may be successful, 



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No December FRUIT NOTES - No issue of FRUIT NOTES was prepared during the month af 



December o 



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Publication Approved by George S, Cronin, State Purchasing Agent-#19 



