Table 2. Mechanical damage to Mcintosh apples by layers In four cartons with four 

 3-pound bags laid horizontally in each of three layers and dropped three 

 times from a height of 12 inches. 



Layer Apples 



Number of Bruises 



T7V' 172^^ 3W' F 



100** 70* 3* 3* 

 96* 62* 20* 5* 

 84* 87* 57b 41b 



♦Figures with same letter do not differ significantly. 



Bagged Mcintosh apples in the bottom layer of the cartons with horizontal 

 bag placement had significantly mere 3/4 inch and 1 inch diameter bruises and 

 total bruised area than the upper two layers. There was no significant difference 

 ia the damage to the apples in the top and middle layers. The number of stem 

 punctured apples did not differ significantly between the three layers. 



The surface of 90 per cent of the apples in contact with the container bottom 

 was bruised with 30 per cent being 1 inch in diameter or larger. 



Additional Protection Reduces Bruising 



A pad of 1/4 inch Ethafoam or a corrugated partition placed on the bottom of 

 mister cartons, holding four 3-pound bags in each of three layers, reduced the 

 Incidence of 1 inch diameter bruises and the average bruised area (Table 3) . 



Table 3. The effect of additional protection against mechanical damage from impact 

 to Mcintosh apples in twelve 3-pound bags in four cartons with four 3- 

 pound bags laid horizontally in each of three layers. The cartons were 

 dropped three times from a height of 12 inches. 



Figures with same letter do not differ significantly. 



The only bruises found on the apples surfaces in contact with the Ethafoam 

 were three ^-inch bruises. However, Ethafoam probably is too expensive for grower 

 use as a means of reducing impact damage. 



Tha number of apples with stem punctures was not influenced by the treatments. 



