Agricultural Research in New Hampshire 45 



Marketing Mcintosh Apples 



In this apple marketing study about three hundred retail stores and 

 a small number of growers were contacted. Samples were taken in about 

 half the cases. A report on condition was secured by referring samples 

 to the horticulture department. Test sales were also made in two chain 

 "supermarkets." 



About 40 per cent of the chains and 78 per cent of the independent 

 stores contacted bought apples from New Hampshire growers. Apples 

 delivered from cold storages showed 22 per cent less waste than those 

 from common storage. Also, apples sold from the original box showed 

 42 per cent less waste and 50 per cent fewer large bruises than those 

 from bins and counters. 



In test sales in "supermarkets" over half the Mcintosh sales for the 

 week were made on Fridays and Saturdays. The rate of sales was twice 

 as great in the afternoon as in the morning. Large-sized (3 inches and 

 up) apples sold best and brought largest profits to the retailer. Bruising 

 seriously reflected on sales, and apples showing conspicuous damage sold 

 only one-third as fast at one-fourth the profit as apples of the same grade 

 which were not conspicuously bruised. 



Facing stimulated sales; faced Mclntoshes sold four times as fast at 

 retail and for more money than unfaced ones taken from same box. Re- 

 tail packages for Mcintosh have not sold well. Neither the package nor 

 fruit in it appeared to meet the demand for a package apple. Special re- 

 tail boxes or trays which would serve satisfactorily for display may aid 

 in reducing handling and bruising in the stores. The retail package must 

 display the fruit and be inexpensive. 



Some growers and stores have demonstrated that Mcintosh apples 

 can be handled with a very small amount of injury. The care taken and 

 method used are more important than time or expense in prevention of 

 bruising. (L. A. Dougherty, Mary Geraghty, A. F. Yeager) 



Winter Injury, with Special Reference to the Apple 



Trees treated with high concentrations of nitrogen on one side and 

 no fertilization on the opposite side, as previously described, were anal- 

 yzed chemically for differences in nitrogen and sugar content of the 

 tissues of the trunk. The conducting tissues were separated and analyzed. 

 The analyses indicated a seasonal variation, with a building up of sugar 

 during the winter and a sudden reduction in the spring. No differences 

 could be shown between the treated and nontreated sides of the apple 

 tree. It was expected that if a low sugar content could be shown on the 

 treated side of the apple tree, it would explain the reason for the side 

 of the tree treated with high nitrogen being more susceptible to winter 

 injury. Samples of tissues from these different treatments were taken 

 and are being studied for anatomical differences. (W. W. Smith, T. G. 

 Phillips, C. L. Calahan) 



Apple Pruning 



Trees set out in 1926 were pruned again this year as in 1940 and 

 1941 according to two systems, the conventional and the thinwood me- 

 thod. The yield, size, and color of fruit from trees pruned by the two 



