320 



FUNDAMENTALS OF FRUIT PRODUCTION 



sistencies, as, for example, the relative positions of Winesap, Ben Davis 

 and Delicious, there is a general correspondence between the date of ter- 

 minal bud formation and the generally accepted relative hardiness of the 

 varieties reported upon. 



The water content of most tissues may be taken as an index of matur- 

 ity, diminishing as this condition is approached; the same is true of other 

 tissues. This being true a study of the moisture contents of different 

 varieties ought to give an index of their relative maturity. 



Shutt^^° reports an interesting set of moisture determinations at Ottawa, 

 reproduced here as Table 50. These 10 varieties were arranged by Macoun in 

 groups in decreasing order of hardiness, as follows: Group 1 (hardiest), Olden- 

 burg, Yellow Transparent, McMahon White; Group II, Wealthy, Scott's Winter; 

 Group III, Scarlet Pippin, Walworth Pippin; Group IV (least hardy), Hebble 

 White, Boy's Delight, Blenheim Pippin. 



Table 50. — Percentage of Water in Apple Twigs Jan. 23, igOS'^" 



Variety 



Basal portion 



Terminal 

 portion 



Whole twig 



Yellow Transparent 

 McMahon White. . . 



Oldenlnirg 



Walworth Pippin . . . 



Boy's Delight 



Wealthy 



Scarlet Pippin 



Hebble White 



Scott's Winter 



Blenheim Pippin ... 



45.55 

 45.45 

 45.02 

 44.72 

 44.74 

 46.82 

 47.13 

 49.09 

 47 . 50 

 48.93 



45.10 

 46.96 

 47.51 

 47,67 



44.75 

 48.72 

 49.92 

 48.82 

 50.36 

 51.38 



45.30 

 46.14 

 46.15 

 46.20 

 46.25 

 47.70 

 48.58 

 48.91 

 48.98 

 50.24 



Comparison of Macoun's arrangement with Shutt's figures, considering 

 in particular the terminal portions of the twigs, shows a correspondence 

 that at least suggests a relationship. Shutt comments on these figures in 

 part as follows: . . . "it would seem, therefore, that we have direct 

 and definite proof that there is a distinct relationship between the mois- 

 ture content of the twig and its power to resist the action of frost and 

 that those trees whose new growth contains the largest percentage of 

 .water, as winter approaches, are in all probability the most tender." 



Table 13 shows the moisture content, at different dates, of several 

 varieties of apples. Of these Hibernal and Wealthy are generally 

 recognized as the hardiest. It is significant that these two varieties 

 had the least moisture in July and that in January, after a week of cold 

 weather, including a minimum of — 15°F., having lost the smallest 

 amounts of moisture, they had the greatest moisture contents. Winesap, 

 figures for which were not complete, dropped in water content, between 



