PICKING MATUBiTY OF APPLES 7 



Reference is also made to the approximate number of days required 

 for different varieties to reach full picking maturity on the tree. 

 These data are based on observations of the time required between 

 full bloom and the best time for picking the fruit. The date of full 

 bloom has been taken as the date when the first petals fall. At this 

 time some blossoms will be just opening and others will be shedding 

 their petals. Data so far obtained indicate that there is a fairly close 

 relation between the time of full bloom in different varieties and the 

 best picking date. 



ARKANSAS 



The storage life of the Arkansas (Mammoth Blade Twig) is 

 limited very largely by the development of storage scald. This is 

 particularly true if the fruit is held in cold storage without the use 

 of oiled paper in the package. The variety is usually firm at time 

 of picking and ripens relatively slowly in storage, hence there is 

 little danger that the fruit will become too ripe, particularly if it is 

 placed in cold storage promptly and is held at temperatures of 31° 

 to 32° F. It requires a long growing season, usually over 160 days, 

 to reach its best development on the tree. Since well-matured fruit 

 scalds least in storage, the later that Arkansas is picked the better 

 the storage quality will be. Fruit of this variety should remain on 

 the tree as long as it will hold well. If the fruit is to be held in cold 

 storage, late picking results in larger fruit of better color and with 

 less tendency to scald : if to be held in common or air-cooled storage, 

 late picking will result not only in larger size, better color, and less 

 tendency to scald, but the late-picked fruit will also be firmer at 

 any time during the storage season. The fruit of this variety, in 

 common with most late-ripening apples, softens faster after being 

 picked and while being held at the temperatures prevailing in air- 

 cooled storage than while remaining attached to the tree. Thus, the 

 later the fruit is picked the firmer will be its condition if held in air- 

 cooled storage. 



The tendency to drop or the possibility of freezing weather will 

 determine when the variety should be picked. The pressure test will 

 usually be near 20 pounds when the tendency to drop necessitates 

 picking this variety. The unblushed portion of the fruit should cor- 

 respond to Xo. 3, Plate 1, unless the tendency to drop necessitates 

 picking before this stage is reached. 



ARKANSAS BLACK 



Arkansas Black is a very firm variety, softening extremely slowly 

 in storage. It is one of the hardest of the commercial varieties, 

 usually testing near 25 pounds when in picking condition. 



The Arkansas Black colors very highly and has only a slight tend- 

 ency 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 color when picked and should separate 

 readily from the spur. For common-storage holding, the variety 

 should be picked as late as possible, since it will ripen less while 

 attached to the tree than while being held in storage at prevailing 

 temperatures. For common-storage holding, the tendency to drop 

 or the possible imminence of severe freezing weather will determine 



