~7- 



Table III shows a decrease in the amount of water core present after the 7 

 days at room temperature for the fruit picked October 29, 1959, and that internal 

 breakdown increased in the fruit picked on all three sampling dates. 



In summary, most of the water core disappeared from the Delicious apples 

 harvested on October 1, 1959 during the 1959-60 period. Water core disappeared 

 from most of the fruit harvested October 15, 1959 but considerable internal break- 

 down developed. Twenty per cent of the fruit harvested on October 29, 1959 had 

 water core and the same per cent had internal breakdox^m at the end of the storage 

 period. In the 1958-59 storage tests the later picked fruit (October 20th and 30th) 

 had a greater incidence of water core than those harvested October 10, 1958, 

 However, internal breakdown was not severe in any of the lots. The storage tests 

 indicate that the occurrence and the severity of water core and internal breakdown 

 present in Starking Delicious after storage varies considerably from year to year. 

 In addition, water core severity appears to be closely related to fruit maturity. 

 With Starking Delicious apples, water core and internal breakdown appear to be 

 associated and apples seriously affected with water core may develop internal 

 breakdown some years. 



On the basis of two years results, it is suggested that growers watch the 

 maturity of Red Delicious apples carefully. The amount and severity of water core 

 may be observed by sampling and cutting of the larger and more mature Delicious 

 on the trees. A suggested picking guide is - when some of the apples show slight 

 water core the fruit should be harvested. When the disorder is limited to a 

 series of small soaked spots around the core it can be classified as slight water 

 core. In the advanced stages of this disorder the water-soaked spots are united 

 to form a continuous band or the spots cover thirty per cent or more of the cross 

 sectional area of the fruit. Water core is apt to persist in storage and be fol- 

 lowed by internal breakdown when much water core is evident at harvest. 



— W. J. Lord 



I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I 



RODENT CONTROL IN APPLE STORAGES 



In protecting apple storages from rodents, usually it is necessary to rid the 

 premises of four kinds of rats and mice. For control purposes, these can be grouped 

 into two groups: (1) rats and house mice, which normally occupy buildings; and (2) 

 meadow mice and white- footed mice which are brought into the storage with the boxes 

 of apples. A general movement of white-footed mice into buildings is also a regular 

 fall occurrence here. The following steps are recommended: 



BEFORE HARVEST 



i. Poison Rats and Mice in Buildings . The first group (rats and house mice) 

 should be brought under control long before the harvest begins. At least a month 

 before picking, one of the anticoagulant rodent baits should be used in permanent 

 bait stations, in the storage building and in all buildings nearby, in this first 

 attack. It is especially important to kill rats (unless fumigation is planned), 

 since the mouse bait used later in the storage room is not a good rat bait. A 

 special rat bait station might be maintained in the storage as a precaution the 

 year around. Details concerning the use of anitcoagulant baits are available on 

 request. 



