UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE 
Joint Contribution from the Bureau of Plant Industry 
WM. A. TAYLOR, Chief, and the Bureau of 
Markets, CHARLES J. BRAND, Chief 
Washington, D. C. ¥v September 8, 1917 
THE HANDLING AND STORAGE OF APPLES IN THE 
PACIFIC NORTHWEST. 
By H. J. Ramsey, Pomologist in Charge, Fruit Handling and Storage Investiga- 
tions; A. W. McKay, formerly Pomologist, and BH. L. MARKELL and H. 8. Brrp, 
formerly Scientific Assistants, Office of Horticultural and Pomological Inves- 
tigations.* 
CONTENTS. 
Page. | Page 
Importance of cold storage.:......-- Bees apne 1 | Immediate versus delayed storage.........-- 18 
Funetion of cold storage. ---........--...-.:- 3 | The effect of storage temperatures.......-... 21 
Experiments of the United States Depart- Commonistoraverss-a Aaa tsss ete cose she 23 
REICH OLN PTICHIGET Om tata om meinem = =e nin a sisi 3 | Deterioration after withdrawal from storage. 24 
WALHHE OL CXPELIMICILS . 5. cee ccc wes--2- <=> 4 | Local versus distant storage of northwestern 
Troubles affecting apples in storage and fac- QDDICS teseee ana ee ene ee Eee eae eee 25 
PonsitMmMemriCONTOl. 5... ose ae see Ieee - 5 | The relation of orchard practices to successiul 
Results of the experiments.......-..--.-.---- 12 StOragete Soe se asc e ot Nee be emacs 26 
Maturity at the time of picking. ............- 13 | Responsibility and inspection...........-..- 27 
When is an apple at proper maturity ?....... 15 | Comparative keeping qualities of varieties of 
Beet of OVermaturity.-.-22----.---2.-.-2--2% 16 Pacific northwestern apples ..............- 27 
@arotaljhandling: .. sa..co25---- 22s 5 snes 7. Samimanryrt. 2 coh cee: Broa teres ee meeee 31 
IMPORTANCE OF COLD STORAGE. 
According to the census reports of 1910 there were at that time 
6.044,918 apple trees of bearing age and 8,643,228 apple trees of non- 
bearing age in the States of Oregon, Washington, and Idaho. The 
production in bushels for 1909 is given as 5,262,985, as compared with 
1,826,620 bushels 10 years before. In 1913 the apple crop for the 
four counties of Chelan, Douglas, Okanogan, and Grant, in the 
State of Washington, was conservatively estimated at 4,328 carloads. 
1B. B. Pratt, formerly Pomologist; C. W. Mann, Pomologist; K. B. Lewis, formerly 
Scientific Assistant; George W. Dewey, W. C. Quick, V. W. Ridley, Carl E. Schuster, and 
E. D. Vosbury, Scientific Assistants in the Office of Horticultural and Pomological Invyes- 
tigations, were actively engaged in the prosecution of these investigations at various times 
during the period covered by the work. 
Note.—The fruit and vegetable handling, transportation and storage investigations 
formerly administered in the Office of Horticultural and Pomological Investigations, 
Bureau of Plant Industry, are now being prosecuted jointly and cooperatively by the 
Bureau of Plant Industry and the Bureau of Markets. 
