lull.] PUBLIC DOCUMENT — No. 31. 223 



'^. A Higher Content of Insoluble Solids. — The analyses 

 show that there is a decided tendency for the insoluble solids 

 to decrease during the stage after ripening. The figures do not 

 show just when the content of insoluble solids is highest, but it 

 must be at or before the time of picking. The analyses also 

 give clear indication of the immaturity of the fruit when grown 

 too far north. This is especially marked in the case of the Ben 

 Davis, doubtless owing to the fact that some lots of this variety 

 came from the far north of the region in which it matures prop- 

 erly, and it falls far short of full maturity. It shows an average 

 content of 2.97 per cent, for the Ben Davis belt and 3. GO per 

 cent, for the specimens from north of this region. Other sorts 

 show similar differences. 



3. Greater Astringency. — All apples in an immature state 

 doubtless contain small amounts of tannin. No determinations 

 of tannin have been made in connection with this work, nor 

 have we discovered any report that shows conclusively just what 

 changes in tannin content go on in the growing and ripening 

 fruit. Nevertheless, it is evident to the taste that green apples 

 have greater astringency than do ripe specimens, and we have 

 rejieatedly observed a markedly greater astringency in northern- 

 grown apples than in the same sort grown farther south. 



^. Less C oloration. — It is well known that plants exhibit 

 brighter, more intense coloration when grown in high latitudes 

 and altitudes. This is true of the coloration of red apples. In 

 the north we find bright intense reds, which become duller 

 towards the south, with a tendency toward a pinkish red towards 

 the southern limit. The proportion of the fruit covered, how- 

 ever, behaves in a different way. We find the greatest pro- 

 portion of color near the middle of a distribution, with a 

 decrease to both the north and south. We find then, near the 

 center of a distribution of most varieties of red apples, fruit well 

 covered with fairly bright color, which is brighter and more 

 intense in northern varieties than in those of the south. 



5. Decreased Size. — When the season is short or cool it i«? 

 natural that a variety should not reach the mnximiim size. It 

 is somewhat difficult to determine, in lots of varying size, how 

 much of the difference is due to climatic causes and how much 



