ARKANSAS 
The storage life of Arkansas (Mammoth Black Twig) apples is 
limited largely by the development of storage scald, but under some 
conditions this variety may be highly subject to decay and internal 
break-down also. It is usually hard at time of picking and softens 
rather slowly in storage, but it may become mealy and break down 
while still relatively firm. It requires a long growing season, usually 
over 160 days from bloom, to reach its best development on the tree. 
Since well-matured fruit is less subject to scald in storage, it is es- 
sential that this variety not be picked too early. However, since there 
is some danger also of its becoming overmature and subject to decay 
and break-down, picking should not be delayed too long after the 
fruit is ready for picking. When it is to be held in cold storage, fruit 
will be larger and of better color and will show less tendency to scald 
if it is picked relatively late. If it is to be held in common or air- 
cooled storage, fruit picked late will have greater firmness during the 
storage season. Apples of this variety, in common with those of most 
late-ripening apples, soften faster after being picked and while being 
held at the temperature prevailing in air-cooled storage than while 
attached to the tree. Thus, the later the fruit is picked the firmer it 
will be. 
Arkansas apples probably should be picked between 160 and 175 days 
from bloom, but the exact interval from bloom to maturity has not been 
well established. When a harvest spray is not used the tendency for 
the apples to drop will help the grower to regulate the time of picking. 
Ground color at maturity will range from No. 2 to No. 2.5 of the color 
chart. 
ARKANSAS BLACK 
Arkansas Black is a very firm variety, softening very slowly in stor- 
age. It is one of the hardest of the commercial varieties, usually 
testing near 25 pounds when in picking condition. 
Arkansas Black colors very highly and has only a slight tendency to 
develop storage scald. There is little danger of its becoming so 
ripe on the tree that the storage quality will be injured. The fruit 
should be a full deep red when picked and should separate readily 
from the spurs. Fruit of this variety that is to be held in common 
storage should be picked as late as possible but before water core 
becomes serious, since it will ripen less while attached to the tree 
than while held in storage at the prevailing temperatures; the tend- 
ency to drop and to develop water core, or the possible imminence of 
severe freezing weather will determine when the fruit should be 
picked. For cold-storage holding it may be picked when fully colored. 
BALDWIN 
In the southern apple-growing areas the picking period for Bald- 
win usually falls in September, whereas in the north-central and 
northeastern apple-growing regions where Baldwin is mainly grown it 
blooms much later and the harvest normally falls in mid-October. 
Since this variety ripens during hot weather in the South, it must be 
handled in cold storage if an appreciable holding period is desired. 
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