disappeared from these fruit but that scald was a problem. 



Table 2 - The effect of picking date on the amount of water core, internal break- 

 down and scald in Richared Delicious apples after storage and seven 

 days at room temperature, March 9, 1961. 



On the basis of three 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. As a picking guide for Delicious, it Is suggested that when some of 

 the apples show slight water core the fruit should be harvested. However, the 

 possibility of storage scald exists when Delicious are picked in a rather immature 

 condition. 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 30 per cent or more of the cross-sectional area of the fruit. Water 

 core is apt to persist in storage and be followed by internal breakdown when much 

 water core is evident at harvest. 



-—William J. Lord 

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



THE SUITABILITY OF MASSACHUSETTS SOILS FOR APPLE ORCHARDS 



Growers considering new sites for apple orchards should be interested in the 

 information obtained in the publication "The Suitability of Massachusetts Soils 

 for Apple Orchards". The suitability groupings contained in this leaflet are a 

 guide to fruit growers, county agents, and technicians dealing with proper land 

 use, for the selection of the soils in Massachusetts for apple orchards. 



The publication should be used only with the Standard Soil Survey maps being 

 made by the Soil Conservation Service, U. S. Department of Agriculture. These 

 soil maps are made on aerial photographs that have a scale of approximately 4" - 

 1 mile. The reconnaissance soil maps made mainly during the 1920' s should not be 

 used. They are published at a scale of about 1" - 1 mile and give insufficient 

 soil detail for use in selecting orchard sites and in the solution of soil prob- 

 lems in apple orchards. 



The grouping of soils for apple orchards in this publication is based mainly 

 on field observations made in the state. Apple tree growth and production were 

 correlated with the soil characteristics observed in soil pits or by soil auger 



