June, 1923] 
MURNEEK — CHANGES IN BARTLETT PEARS 
313 
During the past four shipping seasons several thousand tests have been 
made by means of this instrument on all leading commercial varieties of 
pears in Oregon, but particularly on the Bartlett. 
Table i. Summary of Pressure Tests, Bartlett Pears, Oregon, 1918-1921 
Date 
Rogue River Valley 
Willamette Valley 
1918 
Ave. of 4 
orchards, 
Lbs. 
1919 
Ave. of 5 
orchards, 
Lbs. 
1920 
Ave. of 4 
orchards, 
Lbs. 
1921 
Ave. of 3 
orchards, 
Lbs. 
August 1. 
34-5 
August 2.. 
32.4 
35-7 
August 4. 
35-1 
August 5-6. 
31.2 
35-1 
August 8-9. 
30.0 
34-0 
August 11. 
32.1 
41.0 
August 12. 
29.2 
August 13. 
31.7 
August 15. 
27.8 
31*7 
August 16. 
367 
August 18. 
30.5 
August 19-20. 
254 
40.8 
36.2 
August 22. 
24.4 
29.4 
August 23. 
38.5 
33-8 
August 25.. .. 
27.8 
August 26.. . 
24-3 
32.2 
August 27. 
37-5 
August 29. 
26.5 
August 30. 
367 
31.0 
September 2. 
34-5 
30.8 
September 6. 
29-3 
September 7. 
33-2 
September 11. 
3L6 
September 14. 
27.2 
Table 1 shows in a condensed numerical form the results of several 
thousand tests on Bartletts. It is evident that a strict correlation exists 
between the stage of maturity of a Bartlett pear and the resistance to 
physical pressure of the outer regions of the fruit. The data for the respec¬ 
tive years show a really remarkable consistency in this respect (text fig. 1). 
It should be particularly noted that the data were collected at extremely short 
(2- to 4-day) intervals. These results have been put to practical test in a 
number of commercial orchards. The 11 pressure apparatus” is now in 
use in several pear-growing sections in the Pacific northwest. It permits 
the individual grower, or the growers of a certain district, to measure con¬ 
veniently and to express in concrete units the exact stage of ripeness of the 
fruit at the time of harvesting or shipping. One may thus be guided in 
all harvesting operations and helped to avoid misunderstanding and un¬ 
necessary economic loss. 
In connection with the above-described investigations, the question 
