Ease of Separation 
Smock (73) stated that ease of separation from the spur could only be 
classed as a "rough" or crude guide to maturity. 
Poapst, Phillips, and Ward (63), believing that an association could be 
found between fruit abscission and decline of starch in fruit residual on the 
tree, assessed starch content empirically with the starch iodine index chart of 
Davis and Blair (13). No relationship was found however at that time, but an 
extension of the starch test proved to have some value. 
Rollins and Mattus (68) stated that ease of separation from the spur was 
useful, but like so many other indices was not sufficiently dependable to be 
used alone. 
Poapst, Ward, and Phillips (64) again in 1959 reported results of the 
timing of abscission in McIntosh apples in relation to starch disappearance, 
In this comprehensive report they suggest a formula for calculating the date 
of mean maturity which was considered to be the middle condition of abscission. 
They found that the index of maturity was directly proportional to starch 
analysis for any one season but did not extend between seasons, The relation 
of starch to abscission was seen best in the indexing of windfalls. Harvest 
drop tended to occur at a fixed date of mean maturity or fixed concentration 
of starch for a season. Generally, abscission was found to precede complete 
loss of starch in McIntosh. It appeared that the lead or lag in abscission 
was a function of temperature. 
Poapst and coworkers concluded that there appears to be an association 
between the timing of the processes of abscission and decline of starch in 
McIntosh at harvest and that this association is affected considerably by 
prevailing seasonal temperatures. They state that an appreciation of these 
two points should permit more accurate assessment of the degree of maturity of 
McIntosh and also should increase acceptance of starch measurement as a harvest- 
time guide. 
Days From Full Bloom 
Haller and Smith (27) in a rather complete evaluation of maturity 
indices concluded that the elapsed time from full bloom to maturity was fairly 
constant for each variety under widely different cultural and climatic condi- 
tions and was the most reliable index to maturity. This is probably the most 
widely used guide for determining maturity of apples. It is usually used in 
conjunction with other indices and personal judgment. Van Doren (87) describes 
the formation and activities of the Delicious Maturity Committee of the 
Washington State Horticultural Association. He emphasizes the value of days 
from full bloom as an index of maturity but does not eliminate the other 
factors that help determine the optimum harvest maturity such as ground color, 
flesh color and flavor, 
Smock (73) felt, however, that days from full bloom was too variable to 
be used as a measure of maturity for McIntosh apples, 
Fisher and Smith (20) thought that the decision to harvest apples should 
be based upon a number of factors--days from full bloom setting the tentative 
date to start picking, 
Crowe (11) relating previous work to Nova Scotia conditions established 
or suggested developmental periods (days from full bloom) for a number of 
varieties, 
