CHANGES IN COMPOSITION DURING GROWTH. 



15 



TABLE III. Composition <>j' 



///'* at //m/7.vY r//>rm'.s.s mid <if full ripeness Continued. 



ANALYSIS OF FLESH. 

 MARKET RIPE. 



FULL RIPE. 



COMPARISON OF THE TWO STAGES. 



a Total nitrogenous bodies, 0.38; albuminoids, 0.29; amido bodies, 0.09. 

 b Calculated from polarimetric readings. 



c Total nitrogenous bodies, 0.35; albuminoids, 0.29; amido bodies, 0.06. 



rt Average both by reduction and polarization methods except when results by polarimetric method 

 alone were obtained. 



The change in composition between the period of market ripeness 

 and the period of full ripeness was much less than that which occurred 

 between the time of the hardening of the stone and the time of market 

 ripeness. In all cases the weight per peach increased to some extent 

 during this period, the increase in weight being 8.93 grams per peach, 

 nearly 12 per cent of the weight of the peach at the time of market 

 ripeness. It is therefore apparent that on account of this increase in 

 weight peaches should be allowed to remain on the tree as long as 

 possible without sacrifice to their keeping and shipping qualities. 



During this time the percentage of flesh, stone, and kernel did not 

 greatly change, although a distinct tendency toward growth and thick- 

 ening and an increase of weight of the stone was apparent. The per- 

 centage of solids in flesh and stone is also fairh 7 constant. At the same 

 time it may be noted that there is a distinct though slight increase in 

 the percentage of solids in the flesh, which indicates that the increase 

 in weight is not due to a mere increase in water. This fact is borne 

 out by the increase in the percentage of sugar. During this period 

 the percentage of marc and acids decreases to some extent. Owing to 

 the relative uniformity of the percentage of solids at the various stages 

 of growth, a much clearer idea of the* composition of the water-free 

 material can be obtained from the composition of the total flesh of the 



