60 MASS. EXPERIMENT STATION BULLETIN 417 



stored at 32°, 40°, and 50°F. to September 25, when all were placed in the con- 

 trolled-atmosphere storage. All apples in the experiment came from a single 

 tree. The main conclusions from this experiment follow: 



1 . Ordinary scald was not a factor except on apples picked early and held at 

 50°F. until placed in the controlled-atmosphere storage. From 90 to 100 per- 

 cent of these scalded severely, but wrapping with oiled paper wraps controlled 

 scald almost perfectly. 



2. The soft scald type of injury (probabl>- due to low oxygen) was more 

 prevalent on the later picked fruit and in any particular lot on the more highly 

 colored apples. There was no significant relation between incidence of this 

 injury and the pre-storage temperature. Wrapping had no effect. 



3. Judged by pressure tests and ground color, all apples had reached approx- 

 imately the same stage of maturity by May 5, 1943, except those picked on the 

 10th and 15th of September and held at 50°F. These were riper. 



1943-44 Season — The room was filled and sealed on September 30 and opened 

 on March 27. The majority of the Mcintosh apples were in excellent condition 

 when checked after removal. Only an occasional apple showed the low-ox\'gen 

 injury that was so prevalent the previous year, as special care had been taken 

 to keep the oxygen le\"el from dropping below 2 percent for any length of time. 

 To compare the firmness of apples from air and controlled-atmosphere storage, 

 flesh pressure tests were made on samples from each lot before and after storage. 

 The apples in each comparison were harvested from the same tree. Average 

 figures for 16 lots were as follows: on October 14, 10.06 pounds; on March 28, 

 controlled-atmosphere stored apples, 9.01 pounds, and cold storage apples, 8.17 

 pounds. In every comparison, the controlled-atmosphere apples were firmer 

 according to this pressure test. This difference was readily apparent in handling 

 the fruit. Although the characteristic Mcintosh flavor was lacking, the con- 

 trolled-atmosphere stored apples were more crisp and juicy and in better con- 

 dition for marketing then those stored in the usual way. Golden Delicious apples 

 likewise were in good condition. Cortland scalded badly. No oiled wraps or 

 shredded paper were used on any of the apples. 



The Effect of Orchard Mulches on the Plant Nutrients in the Soil. (J. K. 



Shaw in cooperation with the Chemistry Department.) Soil samples were col- 

 lected as in previous years and the orchard treatment continued. Analysis of 

 the soil samples awaits the restoration of personnel absent in the war effort. 



Blueberry Culture. (J. S. Bailey.) In cooperation with Professor W. L. Doran 

 of the Department of Botany, a propagation experiment was carried out in 

 which softwood cuttings of the variety Rubel were treated with various root- 

 inducing substances. Several of these speeded rooting. Indolepropionic acid 

 seemed particularly promising. The results of this work were reported in Mass- 

 achusetts Agricultural Experiment Station Bulletin 410. 



Until the summer of 1943, mummy berry had appeared only on a bush here 

 and there in the Experiment Station blueberry planting. In 1943 considerably 

 more appeared, enough to suggest that it may become a problem. An estimate 

 of its severity on several varieties was made, using for no infection and 10 for 

 the heaviest. Results were as follows: 



Wareham — 10 Cabot — 5 Pemberton — 2 



Concord — 9 Pioneer — 3 Stanley — • 2 



Rancocas — 8 Rubel — 3 Jersey — 2 



Scammell — 6 



