44 STUDIES ON APPLES. 



expressed as invert sugar, is approximately the reverse of the curve 

 representing the evolution of carbon dioxid. The probability 7 that 

 the carbon dioxid results from the decomposition of carbohydrate 

 bodies is strengthened by the fact that after protracted storage the 

 apple has apparently lost vitality, and changes in composition proceed 

 much more slowly than in the early days of storage. It is probable 

 that at this time the quantity of carbon dioxid given off by reason of 

 the original transpiration of the sound apple would be considerably 

 less than when chemical processes were more vigorous. At the same 

 period of time the changes in the composition of carbohydrate bodies 

 apparently proceed much more slowly than before, whereas with 

 apples preserved in cold storage the change in the content of acid 

 proceeds uniformly. The amounts of water aspirated into the jars 

 were found to be uniformly larger than the amounts carried out by 

 the current of air. This may be accounted for by the probable con- 

 densation of moisture on the interior of the jar, as this has been 

 observed in later experiments. 



THE GROWTH OF APPLES. 



In the summer of 1903 the study of the growth of apples was taken 

 up. It was desired to begin the work with the apples at the earliest 

 stage practicable, but at the same time it seemed best to wait until the 

 " June drop" was over, as the apples which did not cling to the trees 

 might be different in composition from those which remained securely 

 fastened. For this reason the apples when picked were not so small 

 as had been planned for the earliest experiments. For the same rea- 

 son, however, samples taken at the earlier date would probably have 

 been of little or no value. As in the case of the experiments pre- 

 viously described, the apples were selected and furnished by the 

 pomologist in charge of field investigations in the Bureau of Plant 

 Industry, Mr. William A. Taylor. The fruits chosen were those 

 which offered the widest possible range of characteristics within the 

 number of samples which could be examined. (See Table 1.) 



