The number of days from bloom to maturity for the varieties on 
which considerable information is available is shown in figure 2. The 
period of early maturity shown is either the period in which the 
fruit would be mature under conditions that would tend to hasten 
maturity, such as a light crop, or the early maturity for a more 
normal crop. The period of optimum maturity shown is the one when 
optimum maturity is most likely to occur; the period of late maturity 
shown is the period in which overmaturity or dropping may become 
imminent. 
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STAYMAN WINESAP ------ £----------------- E 
WINESAP  -------  ---- -- eer e e err-- 
YORK IMPERIAL ------ £-------------- Hr: Z 
70 80 120 130 140 150 160 170 180 
ELAPSED TIME FROM BLOOM (DAYS) 
FiguRE 2.—Days elapsing from bloom to maturity for 11 varieties of apples. The 
period of early maturity shown is the period during which barely satisfactory 
maturity normally occurs, but optimum maturity may occur in this period under 
conditions that would tend to hasten maturity. Similarly, the period of late 
maturity Shown is the period in which overmaturity or dropping may become 
imminent, but optimum maturity may extend into this period under conditions 
that retard maturity. 
PICKING TIME IN RELATION TO VARIETAL 
CHARACTERISTICS 
Because of the wide variations even in the same variety of apple 
when grown under the climatic conditions prevailing in different parts 
of the United States and in the factors which determine optimum pick- 
ing time for different varieties, it is difficult to discuss the relative 
value of different picking-time tests for apple varieties in general. 
The storage quality of certain varieties is greatly reduced by leaving 
the fruit on the tree too long, whereas with other varieties the greatest 
harm results from picking the fruit too early. It is believed best, 
therefore, to discuss the merits of the different tests for time of pick- 
ing and the best time for picking different varieties in detail in con- 
nection with well-known commercial apples. The writers have set 
down in this circular information on the picking time of a number of 
varieties of apples which they have studied and on which they feel 
justified in making recommendations. 
10 
