(range, 141 to 163) from bloom to harvest. Results for 4 seasons in 
New York (79) showed an average of 1382 days from bloom to harvest. 
Studies in Washington indicated that at least 145 days elapsed from 
bloom to harvest. Recent cooperative studies in which samples were 
picked at intervals and stored to establish proper picking maturity 
more definitely, indicated that at least 145 days, and preferably 150 
days, should elapse between bloom and picking in Washington, 
Oregon, Illinois, Ohio, Michigan, New York, and Maryland. On the 
basis of these results it would seem that this variety normally requires 
at least 145 days to mature sufficiently to have fair quality and that 
harvest should be completed by not more than 155 to 160 days for satis- 
factory storage holding. Shorter periods indicated in some of the 
reports may have been due to early harvest in which actual maturity 
was not established by storage tests on several pickings. 
Under long growing season conditions Delicious apples may become 
overmature. Relative firmness may be used as an indication of the 
approach of an overmature condition. The apples should be picked 
before the pressure test drops below 15 pounds or preferably 16 
pounds. Delicious grown in districts with long growing seasons has 
a tendency to develop water core; such development is a further in- 
dication that the fruit should be removed from the tree. Another 
guide in determining the picking time is the fact that the flesh of 
Delicious apples in proper picking condition is yellowish. 
This variety holds for a long season in a firm, crisp condition if 
moved at once after harvest into storage at 31° to 32° F. It softens and 
becomes mealy with extreme rapidity, however, when handled at 
higher temperatures; consequently, it is not well suited to handling 
in common storage and any delay between date of picking and placing 
fruit under refrigeration will greatly decrease the time the fruit will 
remain in good condition in cold storage. 
Delicious is subject to storage scald when harvested at a stage of 
maturity suitable for fair, but not optimum, dessert quality. In Wash- 
ington 150 to 155 days from bloom is considered necessary to reach a 
scald-free stage of maturity. Where the size of the crop and the 
physical facilities for packing and storage make it necessary to start 
harvesting at the earliest possible date, it is important that such fruit 
be not held for late storage. Even the use of oiled paper will not con- 
trol storage scald on Delicious apples picked before they have passed 
the susceptible stage. 
Red bud sports of Delicious, particularly Starking and to a lesser 
extent Richared, develop red color earlier than regular Delicious, and 
the tendency in commercial practice is to pick them earlier. Maturity 
investigations have shown (5), however, that these sports do not 
mature any earlier than the regular Delicious; therefore they should 
not be picked until at least 145 days from bloom. 
GANO AND BLACK BEN 
The picking-maturity characteristics of Gano and Black Ben are 
similar. Both varieties are susceptible to storage scald if picked in 
aun immature condition. As a consequence, it 1s necessary that the 
fruit remain on the tree until it is practically full colored so that it 
may have the best storage quality. Fruit of these varieties takes on a 
very high color and generally can remain on the tree until it is almost 
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