tern for crops such as these, to facilitate protection measures and 

 permit the harvest of an undamaged crop. It could also be true 

 that intensive efforts during the damage-occurrence period may be 

 less expensive than an extensive season-long control measure such 

 as use of netting. 



The problem of bird-damage to fruit crops is of growing sig- 

 nificance, and it is important that ornithologists become aware of 

 and involved in the problem. They need to recognize that the de- 

 velopment of a general ornithocide will be forthcoming if some re- 

 lief is not soon found for the grower. Furthermore, the grower 

 needs to recognize that while all bird species may be culprits, 

 many may be so only during brief periods of duress. Thus, cooper- 

 ation between the ornithologists and the fruit growers is essential 

 to a solution of the problem. 



*************** 



THINGS TO REMEMBER AS YOU HARVEST APPLES 



Wi 1 1 iam J . 

 Department of Plant 



Bramlage 

 and Soil 



Sciences 



Harvest time is usually hectic, and with all the problems of 

 weather, labor and equipment it is only too easy to overlook or 

 forget some of the basic principles involved in getting fruit of 

 the best possible quality to the consumer. Consequently, a few 

 reminders on these principles follow. 



Pay attention to fruit maturity . Matur 



Fruits 



development of 

 during the harv 

 these changes c 

 ed at an immatu 

 vor or color, a 

 and scald after 

 be very suscept 

 How do you iden 

 qui ck tests curr 

 pecially underc 

 probably the be 

 No one needs to 

 There is not mu 

 give us the bes 

 when fruit are 

 to handle them 

 not improve in 



the fruit at harvest, 

 est season, especially if the 

 annot be compensated for afte 

 re stage, apples will never d 

 nd they will be highly suscep 



harvest. If overmature at h 

 ible to internal breakdown an 

 tify maturity? Many indices 

 ently used are precise. Pres 

 olor), abscission and flavor 

 St guide is your experience w 



tell you the fruit are immat 

 ch we can do to control matur 

 t means so far developed. Bu 

 being harvested either immatu 

 accordingly. Do not store su 

 storage; they will only produ 



ity is the stage of 

 are changing rapidly 

 weather is hot, and 

 r harvest. If harvest- 

 evelop top-quality fla- 

 tible to shriveling 

 arvest, the fruit will 

 d to storage rots, 

 can be used, but no 

 sure tests, color (es- 

 are all helpful , but 

 ith your own fruit, 

 ure or overmature, 

 ity, although Alar will 

 t we need to recognize 



re or overmature and 

 ch fruit. They will 

 ce problems. 



Handle apples as though they were eggs . Eggs break easily 

 and so do apples. A cut or a stem puncture is a wide open door to 

 rot-producing fungi. A bruise harms the appearance and can stimu- 



