30 BULLETIN" 1406, U. S. DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE 



sure test slightly under 20 pounds when picked and only about 14% 

 pounds the middle of January. Rome Beauty grown in Virginia 

 showed a test of about 17% pounds when picked and tested 12% 

 pounds the middle of January. Winesap tested approximately 20 

 pounds in each district at the time of picking. By the end of 

 January the Washington-grown fruit still tested 17 pounds, whereas 

 that from Virginia tested only slightty over 15 pounds. Thus it 

 is apparent that at least for the season 1924-25 the fruit grown in 

 the dry, arid districts of the Pacific Northwest was somewhat slower 

 in softening when held continuously at 32° than apples of similar 

 varieties grown under the more humid conditions which prevailed 

 in Virginia. 



It is rather difficult to compare the rate of softening of apples 

 grown in New York with those in Virginia or the Pacific North- 

 west, since the varieties which are well adapted to the latter sections 

 are entirely different from those adapted to the Northeastern States. 

 As was pointed out in Part I, the varieties grown under the short 

 growing season prevailing in the northeastern section of the country 

 tend to be somewhat harder at picking time than the same varieties 

 grown under conditions of a long growing season. Rome Beauty, 

 for example, when picked on October 18 in New York State showed 

 a pressure test of over 22 pounds; the same variety picked on Oc- 

 tober 3 at Wenatchee, Wash., tested under 20 pounds and when picked 

 October 8 at Rosslyn, Va., tested considerably under 18 pounds. 

 The Baldwin when picked in Virginia on September 20 showed 

 a pressure test under 18 pounds; in New York, on October 18, it 

 was only slightly under 20 pounds. Thus, it would appear that, on 

 the average, apples grown in the northeastern sections are much 

 firmer at picking time than the same varieties in the southern or 

 northwestern districts, where a much longer growing season pre- 

 vails. Apparently, it is also true that the average firmness of all 

 the varieties grown in the sections having a short growing season 

 is greater at picking time than is the average firmness of the varieties 

 in regions with a long growing season. 



It is apparent from Figure 11, however, that the New York-grown 

 apples studied softened more rapidly when held continuously at 

 32° F. than did the average of the varieties grown in the Pacific 

 Northwest or even in Virginia. Thus the Baldwin, Tompkins King, 

 Stark, and Rome Beauty grown in New York were all harder at 

 the time of picking than the Delicious, Stayman Winesap, or Rome 

 Beauty grown at Wenatchee; yet, by the middle of January, the 

 varieties grown in New York were in approximately the same condi- 

 tion of firmness as those grown at Wenatchee, whereas the W inesap 

 and Yellow Newtown from Washington were much firmer than any 

 of the varieties studied from New York. It therefore appears that 

 the firmer condition at time of picking of apples having a short 

 growing season is not particularly associated with better storage 

 holding. Although the varieties adapted to these regions were firmer 

 at picking time on the average than were varieties adapted to a 

 long growing season, they also softened somewhat more rapidly 

 when held at 32° F. 



