76 THE COLD STORAGE OF APPLES 



Bitter 7'ot ( Gleosporium fructigenuin). This rot Is 

 similar in naked eye appearance to the foregoing but produces 

 somewhat darker spots and the pulp has a bitter taste. 



Soft rot. In this form the color of the rotting area is 

 lighter than in the preceding forms, being light or yellowish 

 brown ; the pulp may become very soft. The fruiting of this 

 fungus occurs in white, rounded tufts upon the surface, the 

 tufts taking on later a bluish-green color due to the matured 

 spores. This form of rot is produced by one of the common 

 mold fungi {^Pennicilliiim glaucuni)^ so abundant on various 

 kinds of decaying matter. 



The spores of the fungi causing these rots are produced in 

 immense numbers, especially in the case of the last mentioned 

 form, and as they are easily floated by slight currents of air, 

 they are widely distributed, and, in all ordinary forms of hand- 

 ling, apples are more or less exposed to Infection by them, but 

 certain precautions will tend to limit the danger. Apples bar- 

 reled in the orchard will be less likely to be infected than if 

 they are previously stored, uncovered, in dusty barns or moldy 

 cellars. The barrels themselves, especially flour barrels, are 

 likely to be sources of infection unless they are thoroughly 

 cleaned. The mold fungus producing the soft rot develops 

 abundantly on such barrels if they are exposed to moisture. 

 Heat and moisture favor the development of the rot-producing 

 fungi, hence the advisability of storing in cool and dry places. 

 In general It may be said that cold storage Is the most practical 

 method of controlling the rots which we at present have. 



The results of two series of experiments are here reported. 

 Series I was carried on in 1 899-1900 and the results were 

 published In the Twelfth Annual Report of the station ; but it 

 seems desirable to republish them here In connection with the 

 results of Series II, which was conducted In 1900-1901. 



Series I. November iS, 1899, twelve boxes (bushel market 

 boxes) of Baldwin apples were shipped to the Qj-uncy Market 

 Cold Storage Company of Boston. The apples were No. is, 

 selected from the mixed crop gathered at different dates during 

 October. The boxes were fllled after the apples had been 

 thoroughly mixed to secure as great uniformity as possible ; 

 about two fifths of them were wrapped in manilla tissue paper. 



