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CIRCULAR 5 7 9, U. 



DEPARTMENT OE AGRICULTURE 



or above were rated hard, with individual apples testing as much 

 as 27. The firm stage ranged from about 18.5 to 15 pounds, the firm- 

 ripe stage from 16 to 12.5. and the ripe stage less than 13.5, with 

 individual apples testing as low as 9. Overripe apples were observed 

 in lots that averaged 12 pounds. 



Jonathan 



The softening of Jonathan apples is shown in figure 7. This 

 variety was considered hard at 16 pounds 3 test and above, with some 

 apples testing as much as 25. The firm stage ranged from 16.5 to 

 13.5 pounds and the firm-ripe stage from 11 to 10.5. As with some 



15 



30 



15 



31 



15 



30 



15 



31 



15 



31 



15 28 



15 



31 



15 



SEPT 





OCT. 





NOV. 





DEC. 





JAN. 





FEB. 



MAR. 





APR 



Figure 7. — Firmness (pressure test) of Jonathan apples in relation to stage of 

 ripeness during ripening at various temperatures. The letters on the chart 

 indicate the degree of ripeness, as explained on page 5. The range of 

 firmness or zone representative of each degree of ripeness is given at the 

 right. The letters are omitted from those points at which the designations 

 fall within the corresponding zone at the right, as explained on pages 5 and 6. 



other varieties, there was a tendency in this variety for the softenino- 

 to slow down after the firm-ripe stage was reached: consequently, the 

 apples became ripe with relatively little further softening and this 

 resulted in considerable overlapping of the pressure test represent- 

 ing the firm-ripe and ripe stages. The ripe stage ranged from 12 

 to 8 pounds. Between 10.5 and 12 pounds the apples might be rated 

 either firm ripe or ripe, the rating depending on factors other than 

 pressure test. Overripe apples were found in lots testing as much 

 as 11 pounds. 



Oldenburg (Duchess) 



As shown in figure 8, the softening of Oldenburg apples at 70 c F. 

 \ as very rapid. The apples showed core browning after relatively 



