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CONSUMERS DON'T LIKE BRUISED McINTOSH APPLES 



For the past four years studies have been made at the Massachusetts Experiment 

 Station relative to bruising of Mcintosh apples. Without resorting to a vast array 

 of figures and statistics the overall results of these studies can be summarized as 

 follows: 



1. Fruit growers in general are losing an appreciable sum of money because 

 of bruises and skin punctures. 



2. This bruising occurs not only in retail stores but on the farm. 



3. Bruising that occurs on the farm may be due to careless pickers as well 

 as sorters and packers. 



4. Excessive bruising of Mcintosh apples is unnecessary as several growers 

 consistently handle their crops with a minimum of bruising. 



5. From the condition of numerous lots of apples obtained in retail stores 

 and then analyzed for bruising, there must certainly be a relationship 

 between the kind of apples that are offered to consumers and the decline 

 In the per capita consumption of apples. 



The obvious answer to this problem of bruising is first of all for the grower 

 to be bruise conscious and then to everlastingly Impress upon all those handling 

 his apples the Importance of careful handling. 

 1 



Under ripe and over ripe apples go hand in hand with bruising in discouraging 

 housewives from buying apples. They want to buy apples and feed them to their fami- 

 lies but they want good ones. It is up to the growers and handlers to see that 

 they get them. 



This problem of bruising is of so great Importance not only in Massachusetts 

 but in other Mcintosh producing states that it seems fitting to include here an 

 article by Dr. A. B. Burrell which appeared in the August issue of "New York State 

 Horticultural Society News Letter". 



This article which expresses our views so nicely is as follows: 



C UTTIMG BRUISING IN McINTOS H 

 by A. B. Burrell, Peru, N. Y. 



"This is our toughest problem. Mcintosh makes up 90 per cent of our production 

 and at the height of the season we must pick 4,000 to 6,000 bushels a day. Through 

 painful experience over 30 years we have learned a few lessons which lead to the 

 following suggestions. 



1. Don't let the trees get above medium in nitrogen level. Big soft apples 

 bruise too easily. > 



2. Don't grow more Mcintosh than you can harvest at the proper stage of maturity. 

 Picked too early, Macs come off hard and get too many finger marlcs. Too late, 

 they get bruising from softness. 



