COOL STORED FRUIT

Dominion, Volume 11, Issue 225, 11 June 1918, Page 8

COOL STORED FRUIT

PKOBLKMB UNSOLVED; Although experience h,is been gained that indicates t.ho proper temperaturea at which applet should be held in cold storage lo ensure their being leapt in good condition for eight month's and longer, all factors connected- with the cool storage of fruit do not appear to have bec.i similarly solved (says the "Australasian''). During some seasons there are varieties of apples that go off, and have to be removed from storage some months earlier than they would have'to be taken out in a normal season. The cause of the skin shrivelling and the flesh going to "sleep" is in nu way associated with the chamber conditions, but is rather attributable to too early or too late liar* vesPing of the fruil liml to seasonable conditions. Last year .Jonathans were kept iu excellonl; condition in cool starage through to the end of October, when high prices were, responsible for .their removal from the olinmbers. This season the appearauce and condition of much of the fruit suggests the likelihood that the apples will not store as well as usual. So far as the over-ripe portion oil the stored produce is concerned,- the tiuill. lies with those who left the Fruit on the trees some weeks after it should have been safely put away in the refrigerating chambers, but with the remaining portion any fault of the fruit to keep over long periods appears to be | accountable for by the season. It is I not an easy matter to define the difference! in the condition of the- fruit that leads one lo think that it is lacking in storage qualities, for while, in some instances the apples; suggest n somewhat soft condition, others are firm and apparently in good condition. Tint whatever these,changes may be. they are in no small measure the result of the season that have caused short periods of jerky growl h to take-place instead of the normal, steady development that ensures the production of hard, well-grown fruits. Apart from the Jonathan, which is natnrallv a somewhat! soft apple, this difference in the texture of the fruit has not boon noticeable to any marked degree. ' Some of the London Pippins or Five Crowns, have not developed as well as usual, but these are unlikely to be held in storage over any lengthy periods. It Wilt probably pay those growers well who have large quantities-of Jonathans in; cool storage to keep a closer watch than usual over the fruit, so that they may .-ju'ickly disnose of any that show signs of going off early in the season.