44 STUDIES ON APPLES. 
expressed as invert sugar, is approximately the reverse of the curve 
representing the evolution of carbon dioxid. The probability that 
the carbon dioxid results from the decomposition of carbohydrate 
bodies is strengthened by the fact that after protracted storage the 
apple has apparently lost vitality, and changes in composition proceed 
much more slowly than in the early days of storage. It is probable 
that at this time the quantity of carbon dioxid given.off by reason of 
the original transpiration of the sound apple would be considerably 
less than when chemical processes were more vigorous. <At the same 
period of time the changes in the composition of carbohydrate bodies 
apparently proceed much more slowly than before, whereas with 
apples preserved in cold storage the change in the content of acid 
proceeds uniformly. The amounts of water aspirated into the jars 
were found to be uniformly larger than the amounts carried out by 
the current of air. This may be accounted for by the probable con- 
densation of moisture on the interior of the jar, as this has been 
observed in later experiments. 
THE GROWTH OF APPLES. 
In the summer of 1903 the study of the growth of apples was taken 
up. It was desired to begin the work with the apples at the earliest 
stage practicable, but at the same time it seemed best to wait until the 
** June drop” was over, as the apples which did not cling to the trees 
might be different in composition from those which remained securely 
fastened. For this reason the apples when picked were not so small 
as had been planned for the earliest experiments. For the same rea- 
son, however, samples taken at the earlier date would probably have 
been of little or no value. As in the case of the experiments pre- 
viously described, the apples were selected and furnished by the 
pomologist in charge of field investigations in the Bureau of Plant 
Industry, Mr. William A. Taylor. The fruits chosen were those 
which offered the widest possible range of characteristics within the 
number of samples which could be examined. (See Table I.) 
