tion is reached in the southern areas the pressure test will usually be 
19 to 17 pounds, whereas in the more northern areas it will be 20 to 
19 pounds. ; 
In the southern areas fruit left on the tree until softer than a con- 
dition represented by a pressure test of about 17 pounds is relatively 
poor for storage. Fruit of this variety when picked in a more mature 
condition than this will become soft relatively early in cold storage 
and may show physiological break-down or a collapse of the flesh if 
held in common storage. In the northern apple-growing areas there 
is relatively little danger of Ben Davis being picked too late pro- 
vided severe freezing weather is avoided. 
CoRTLAND 
The Cortland apple, developed from a cross of Ben Davis and 
McIntosh, closely resembles the McIntosh parent; but it is described 
as being somewhat later to mature and having a somewhat longer 
storage life. Results for 3 seasons in New York (19) indicate 
that Cortland was usually harvested at about the same number of 
days from bloom (128) as McIntosh. One season’s results in New. 
York, in which samples picked at different maturities were compared 
after storage, indicated that both Cortland and McIntosh should be 
picked somewhat later (about 185 days from bloom). Results for 
10 seasons in Ohio (4) showed a still longer period from bloom to 
harvest (average, 144 days; range, 133 to 155), which was also con- 
siderably longer than the comparable average for McIntosh (129 
days). From these results it seems likely that at least 180 days from 
bloom should elapse before the picking of Cortland is started. 
Optimum maturity probably occurs normally at about 135 days. Like 
McIntosh the Cortland variety is fairly soft and ripens rapidly at high 
temperatures. It is essential, therefore, that the fruit be picked before 
it becomes too soft (pressure test of less than 15 to 14 pounds) and 
that the fruit be placed under refrigeration promptly after harvest. 
Cortland is exacting in its picking requirements, developing storage 
scald if picked too early and break-down and mealiness if picked too 
late. Because its fruit holds on the tree much better than that of 
McIntosh, there has been a tendency to delay picking until harvest 
of McIntosh is complete. This has resulted in some overmature and 
poor-keeping Cortland fruit. 
DELIcIousS 
Delicious is grown over a wide range of climatic conditions. High 
development of red is extremely desirable in this variety; in order to 
obtain good color, therefore, it is sometimes left on the trees so long 
that the storage quality is injured. On the other hand, if picked when 
too immature Delicious is of extremely poor dessert quality. 
Elapsed time from bloom is probably the most reliable means of 
establishing the earliest time for picking this variety. Considerable 
data relative to the number of days from bloom to earliest picking 
have been accumulated. Earlier studies (74) from Massachusetts, 
Michigan, Ohio, Virginia, and Washington indicated that from 134 
to 153 (average, 140) days elapsed from bloom to optimum maturity. 
Results for Ohio (4) for 30 seasons showed an average of 153 days 
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