PICKING MATURITY OF APPLES 15 



should not be left on the tree until the pressure test is below 16 

 pounds. Fruit testing between 16 and 18 pounds has been found very 

 satisfactory for storage. The ground color of the fruit generally 

 should correspond to Xo. 3, Plate 1. Sometimes the variety softens, 

 however, while the ground color is still green, so that the latter is not 

 an infallible index to time of picking. This is particularly likely to 

 occur if the fruit is ripening during very warm weather. In general 

 it may be said that this variety can stay on the tree until the pressure 

 test reaches 16 pounds or slightly less without serious injury to the 

 storage quality. If appreciable water core begins to develop the fruit 

 should be picked. 



Delayed picking is desirable to obtain high color, good size, and 

 dessert quality. If the variety is not packed in oiled paper, it is 

 essential that it remain on the tree as long as it will hold satisfac- 

 torily, in order to reduce the development of scald to a minimum. 

 The pressure test and under certain conditions the development of 

 water core are perhaps the most dependable indexes to picking 

 maturity. 



Stayman Winesap ripens relatively rapidly after being removed 

 from the tree ; so. if long keeping is desired, it is essential that the 

 variety be placed under refrigeration immediately. 



WAGENER 



The Wagener variety is extremely susceptible to scald while in 

 storage and also to water core while on the tree. In general, in 

 order to attain high color and the greatest resistance to storage 

 scald, the fruit should be left on the tree until it is very loose and 

 dropping or until water core has developed to a very appreciable 

 extent. 



This variety is well adapted to a short season in air-cooled storage 

 in the shorter growing season districts. If intended for common- 

 storage holding, it should remain on the tree as long as possible or 

 until water-core development becomes serious. If intended for cold- 

 storage holding, late picking is also desirable unless oiled paper is 

 used. If placed in cold storage after packing in oiled paper, picking 

 when the fruit shows a pressure test of around 18 pounds or slightly 

 above will apparently give very satisfactory results. 



WIXESAP 



The Winesap has a long growing season, usually requiring about 

 165 to 170 days between the date of full blossoming and the picking 

 date in order to reach its best development. It is one of the very 

 best varieties for long-storage holding, softening relatively slowly 

 in storage. If placed at once in cold storage following picking and 

 held at a temperature of 30° to 32° F., the Winesap will hold through 

 until late spring in a crisp, firm condition. 



The Winesap has a rather pronounced tendency to scald late in the 

 season if not placed in oiled paper. Consequently, if this precau- 

 tion is not taken, this variety should remain on the trees as long as 

 it will hold without excessive dropping, in order to reduce storage 

 scald to the minimum, 



m The Winesap usually colors very highly, and high color is essen- 

 tial to its most advantageous marketing. This is" obtained to best 



