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Czrcular No. 711 
October 1944 +¢ Washington, D.C. 
UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE 
Picking Maturity of Apples —_ 
By MArkK H. HAtteER, associate pomologist, and J. R. MAGNESS, heédyhorticulturist 
in charge, Division of Fruit and Vegetable Crops and Diseases, Bureaw. of 
Plant Industry, Soils, and Agricultural Engineering, Agricultural Research 
Administration h Ay is _ Mf 
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Contents Ea, 944 
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Page toe aye Page 
Need for and reliability of indexes of maturity_ 1 | Picking time in relation to-yarietal character- 
Definitions of maturity terms_________________ 3 istics—Continued. oye CY /p ; 
Orchard and storage disorders related to ma- Cortland Sees Meena et Panel alli £ Thy 3. 4 
RC UnI tyne ee ee Re 3 Delicious a ee ls fn “OB £ 
Changes in apples approaching picking ma- Ganoand’ Black Benes .. 342.0 42007 i 14 ¢ 
(BOUVECGSY S SI S eg g 5 Golden; Delicious \. nays ewe rey oe Le 
EMCREASESINYSIZA ME Ase ee 5 GrimesiGoldems cane By tais aU Sail ee °) 
Change in seed color________________ anv 5 Jonathanssnan ya Ns elitr ale MG UT oc aa 16 
Changes in chemical composition_________ 5 TAY BSD Bat eCOYS) oes ately Re Ea ay a 17 
Corking over of lenticels__________- aa 6 INOKEHEENMES yi Nee Uae RTA RAE SpA 7; 
Change in fruit color__________- see 6 Rhode Island Greening___________________ 17 
Softer os eee shee ea Pes ie 7 OMe Beauty sais 2 be) ana aay screen ee 18 
Loosening of fruit from spurs____________- 8 StaymanZzWanesapy owes a Mie ena en 18 
Development of water core______________- 8 WIA SOM EN Ee MRO Ua a APD ou A UNA ar etna 19 
Elapsed time from full bloom to picking ma- NYAVAT UU Ute orn Oia co esl rane Uae el ON oan ee eA 19 
GUE Vee ire BIN oS ETE ac. 9 VATA CS oie ita faieh i eu Sioa tah Je ee La) av DN 19 
Picking time in relation to varietal character- SViellowANiewibo wane Boe wee ay a ane la 20 
TO GLC Serer ere N Tiere an ane ON OSE Se SN Sut St 10 Yellow @ransparent:. 222s.) l a ees 21 
INGE FEO O ae hk eh asl er eee a tn 11 YORK MEI DOTA ane tek aaa Ne UD et 21 
IAkansaseblac@kermmenan i bor otinn Aaa Rs 11 | Picking time in relation to handling_________-_ 22 
Bal div ine aancr sn MEN Oa DSN VD PGIGELAGUTE CIEE Gye Oe eR aI paid 23 
HS Cnp ID avy 1S eee sale Cay Ee 12 
PPP PPP PEPPERELL GLA LLLALLLLAGLL LLL LLLILIIEAIGIG, 
NEED FOR AND RELIABILITY OF INDEXES OF 
MATURITY 
The dessert quality, storage capacity, and commercial value of ap- 
ples are influenced greatly by the maturity at which the fruit is picked. 
If picked prematurely, apples are likely to be small, tough, poorly 
colored, sour, off flavor, and subject to scald in storage. If picked 
when overmature, they are likely to have developed water core while 
still on the tree; with some varieties the red color may become too dark 
and dull and the skin may become greasy or oily. Overmature apples 
are likely to become mealy or to break down after storage and to be 
flat in flavor. Generally there is a period of 5 to 20 days, depending 
on variety and cultural and climatic conditions, during which the fruit 
can be picked with the assurance that it will remain reasonably free 
of the storage disorders associated with immaturity or overmaturity 
and will ripen with reasonably good dessert quality. It is obviously 
1This circular supersedes Department Bulletin 1448, Picking Maturity of Apples in 
Relation to Storage (13). 
602694°—44 1 
