2CX) MAINE AGRICUIvTURAL EXPERIMENT STATION. I905. 



Keeping Qualities as Aeeected by Culture. 



The influence of cultivation in an orchard, as affecting the 

 keeping quality of the fruit, is a question of perennial interest. 

 The Station has no facilities for conducting a satisfactory 

 inquiry in this direction, but as bearing upon the subject several 

 barrels of fruit were set aside in the winter of 1904-5 in Mr. 

 Pope's cellar, and were left until some time after the usual season 

 for marketing. While conclusions can not be drawn from this 

 test, certain indications may be suggestive. 



For the trial three barrels of Tolmans and four barrels of 

 Baldwins were set aside. Of the Tolmans, one barrel each from 

 sod and from cultivated land were taken, and one barrel was 

 divided between the two. Of the Baldwins, two barrels were 

 from trees in sod and two from adjacent cultivated trees. The 

 fruit was sorted as for commercial purposes and the barrels were 

 headed up and set in a very cool cellar, in a temperature of 35 

 to 40 degrees Fahrenheit. 



On April 7 the Tolmans were examined and showed signs of 

 breaking down. They were accordingly assorted and a record 

 made of their condition. At this time the Baldwins showed no 

 sign of breaking down, and they were left until May 10 before 

 assorting. In each case the fruit was divided into three classes : 

 (i) that which was perfectly sound; (2) slightly decayed, or 

 " specked," including that form of breaking down commonly 

 called " scalding; " (3) decayed or worthless fruit. The follow- 

 ing table represents the exact condition of the fruit at the times 

 indicated : 



Variety. 



■O'C 



= 



31 



s 



fccC 



?5x 



00 

 3 



■"■a 

 ■a >, 



1^ 



® 

 Si 



a 



3 

 fl 





Remarks. 



Tolman 



No. 1 (sod) 



No. 2 (sod) 



No. 3 (cultivated) 



No. 4 (cultivated) 

 Baldwin 



No. 1 (sod) 



No. 2 (sod) 



No. 3 (cultivated) 



No. 4 (cultivated) 



844 

 164 

 314 

 222 



655 

 507 

 438 

 361 



102 

 27 



140 

 45 



83 

 196 

 125 

 183 



48 

 21 

 27 

 15 



14 



25 

 120 

 51 



494 

 212 

 481 



282 



752 

 758 

 683 

 595 



69.6 



77.4 

 65.3 



78.7 



87.1 

 66.9 

 64.1 



60.7 



) Free from scald and of better color than 

 \ cultivated fruit— often with blush. 

 A little scald. 

 Much scald. 



Sod grown fruit scalded worse than the 

 other but was of better color. 



