CHAPTER XXVI 

 STORAGE 



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Apple culture has attained such proportions in the United States 

 that the harvesting and disposition of the crop have become matters 

 of national importance. To preserve the crop until it is distributed 

 to consumers in a sound and wholesome condition is probably 

 one of the most important questions of commercial apple-growing. 

 Through the warm months of September and October a large part 

 of the crop ripens rapidly, and is thrown on the market in perish- 

 able condition before midwinter, causing a disastrous glut and low 

 prices, followed by abnormally high prices to the consumer in late 

 winter and early spring. 



The beginning of refrigerated cold storage, which was welcomed 

 by growers and dealers as the solution of the problem, dates back 

 to about 1890. Experience has demonstrated, however, that in 

 many instances fruit held in cold storage in the fall has failed to 

 come out in good condition in the late winter or spring. Observa- 

 tions show that different lots of fruit in the same storage room 

 behave differently, some keeping well, while others spoil. Since 

 1900 the Department of Agriculture and several experiment sta- 

 tions have taken up the question of cold storage, with a view to re- 

 ducing the uncertainty and loss. It was found necessary to study 

 into the whole problem of orchard location and cultural treatment, 

 as well as the methods employed in picking, packing, and shipping 

 the fruit — all of these having important bearing on the availability 

 of the product after it reaches the storage house. 



Cold storage is having such an important influence in developing 

 the apple industry as a staple business that in many sections it is 

 now becoming the principal crop instead of an incidental one. 



Apple storage. An apple, to have the best keeping and com- 

 mercial qualities, should usually be fully grown and highly colored 

 when picked. When harvested in this condition it is less liable 

 to scald, is of better quality, more attractive in appearance, and is 



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