334 The Commercial Apple Industry 



The effects of improved storage have been far reaching. 

 It is obvious that a practice which will prolong the market- 

 ing period of any seasonal commodity will have a great 

 influence in its distribution. The possibility of storing 

 fruit has also had an important influence on our leading 

 commercial apple varieties. Formerly only a few of the 

 very late keeping sorts were available for distribution dur- 

 ing the late winter and early spring months. 



Under the present system of handling through storage, 

 it is possible to prolong the life of more delicate and 

 higher quality varieties and in this way greatly stimulate 

 the demand for apples late in the season. The greater 

 part of the commercial apple crop will always be placed 

 in storage for periods of varying length and a general 

 knowledge of the principles involved is of much import- 

 ance. The difference between common and cold storage 

 is generally understood. The former method depends on 

 natural atmospheric temperatures and the latter on arti- 

 ficial cooling. 



Life processes of the apple do not cease at the time of 

 picking and it is important to retard these processes by 

 getting the fruit into storage with as little delay as possible. 

 A day or two of exposure to the warm sun may shorten 

 the life of the fruit very materially. Emphasis has 

 already been placed on the desirability of transferring the 

 fruit from the orchard to the packing-house as quickly 

 after picking as possible. 



Local vs. distance storage. 



Cold-storage plants were formerly situated near the 

 larger markets. In recent years, however, there has been 

 a growing tendency towards the establishment of cold- 



