FRUIT CULTURE 151 



The ideal stage at which apples should be picked is when they 

 have reached a perfectly sound condition, and then they should 

 be stored just as quickly as you can get them into storage after 

 they come off the tree. They should not be stored in open bins. 

 They should not be disturbed and picked over in the barrels, if 

 you can help it. Picking them over is a good way to spread the 

 rot spores. If they are wrapped in individual papers the spores 

 will not be able to spread from one apple to another. 



Question. What is the temperature at which apples should be 

 stored? 



Prof. Pickett. Apples are safe at 30 degrees. The juice of the 

 apple freezes at about 28| or 29 degrees. It is a little thicker than 

 water, and freezes at a little lower temperature than water. The 

 cold storage authorities say 31 degrees, and I think that can be 

 taken as very accurate indeed. In fact, I know of some experi- 

 ments, both published and unpublished, which say that 31 degrees 

 is the ideal temperature in which to store apples. Apples keep 

 very nicely if they are removed directly from picking to storage 

 in a temperature of from 27 to 28 degrees, if they belong to the good 

 keeping greenings; the Ben Davis will keep until June or July. 



Mr. Frost. This morning I saw some Baldwin apples in Danvers 

 and the owner of those apples said that last week he picked over 

 sixty barrels and got less than a peck of specked apples. I think 

 this bears out what Prof. Pickett says. These apples were good 

 but very small, and came from trees which I think had fully 

 matured. From what I have seen this winter, I think last year 

 was a hard year on orchards which had been under cultivation, 

 but it was a good year for neglected orchards. These apples I saw 

 this morning were surely from a neglected orchard. 



Question. I would like to ask if there are any of the newer 

 peaches that approach the Elberta as a commercial peach. 



Prof. Sears. Mr. Chairman, I don't suppose there is any kind 

 of a peach that you can make as much out of as the Elberta, but 

 the white peach is far better to eat than the yellow peach. The 

 Carman and Belle of Georgia are far superior to eat to the Elberta. 

 I think the Elberta is a good peach to sell, but I don't want Mrs. 

 Sears to can any Elbertas. I want something else. 



Question. Under ordinary conditions what is a low-head tree, 

 how many inches from the ground? 



