10 



Mutsu - This is a high quality apple that is now gaining in popularity 

 in the U.S. 



Fuji - Originating in Japan, this variety has quality, but lacks adequate 

 color. A red strain is available, and we shall be testing this at 

 the Horticultural Research Center in Belchertown. 



Gala - This originated in New Zealand, and is being grown quite extensively 

 there. It has good quality and a distinctive flavor, but the color 

 could be better. There is a red coloring strain of Gala available. 



Lady William - A late maturing (S'-s months) red apple that has good quality. 

 Post harvest-wise, it is almost indestructible. Its major attribute 

 is that it can stay at room temperature for up to 2 weeks without 

 becoming soft. 



An interesting, informal taste panel study was done by Colin Little, a 

 postharvest physiologist at the Horticultural Research Center, Knoxfield, 

 Victoria. He selected Mutsu and Fuji, two varieties that scientists con- 

 sider to be among the best new varieties, and compared them with Granny 

 Smith. The taste panel was a children's Sunday school class. Apples were 

 rated for appearance, fresh eating quality and cooked eating quality. The 

 results are listed below. 



— % Preference — 



Variety Appearance Fresh Eating Qua! ity Cooked Eating Qual i ty 



Granny Smith 10 . 



Fuji 100 30 30 



Mutsu 60 70 



When asked why all of them liked Fuji's appearance, they replied, 

 "Because it is red." Therefore, good red color is still a major factor in 

 initial sales of apples. Granny Smith is a high quality apple, especially 

 when grown in its country of origin, Australia. We have an apple, Mutsu, 

 that has both a frash and cooked quality that is competitive with Granny 

 Smith. I believe that all growers should raise some Mutsu, especially for 

 farm sales. 



Cultural Practices 



Soils are generally low in potassium, phosphorus, and organic matter. 

 A complete fertilizer is usually applied. Soil tests prior to planting and 

 leaf analyses in established orchards are used as guides to fertilization. 

 Australians were among the first growers in the world to use calcium sprays. 

 They consider calcium sprays to be important for long postharvest life, and 

 the general practice is to use 5-5 foliar sprays per year. 



