252 Fruit-growing in Arid Regions 



age. The life processes are proceeding continually, but 

 more slowly in cool temperatures than at higher ones. It 

 is the purpose of the cold-storage house to check the ripen- 

 ing processes in the minimum temperatures that will not 

 injure the fruit, and in this way prolong its life. The 

 cooler temperature also checks the spread of fungi, that 

 may kill the fruit prematurely. The ripening processes 

 may then be considered little more than decay, and the 

 fruit should be handled in a way to delay this decomposi- 

 tion as long as possible. 



The fruit must not be allowed to become overripe upon 

 the tree. It should be picked just as it reaches the height 

 of its life development and before it begins to decline. 

 Pears allowed to hang on the trees too long soften at the 

 core and soon rot in storage. The Jonathan apple oc- 

 casionally rots at the core in storage, and it is generally 

 conceded that allowing the fruit to hang on the tree too 

 long is the cause of the trouble. The Jonathan and some 

 other varieties crack at the calyx end when picking is de- 

 layed, and this also gives entrance for molds in storage. 

 Under normal conditions the ripening processes proceed 

 much faster after the fruit is picked from the tree, and 

 every effort should be made to check it by storing the fruit 

 in a cool place or promptly delivering it to the buyer. 



The following statements from a recent bulletin of the 

 United States Department of Agriculture emphasize the 

 importance of storing promptly : 



" Rhode Island (Greening), Tompkins King, and Sutton 

 apples picked September 15, 1902, and stored within three 

 days, were firm till the following March, with no rot or scald, 

 but fruit from the same trees not stored till two weeks after 



