The Findlay Jeffersonian. [volume] (Findlay, Hancock County, Ohio) 1870-1881, 1876-11-03
EARLY DECAY OF APPLLS-HOw TO
REMEDY,

REMED1.
1t is a common cause of complain
here at the West, that our apples decay
much sooner than the same varieties
brought from the East, or even IRON
Michigan. This mas served TO diinih
ish the market value of our fruit, fol
those who wish TO lay in stock fol
winter use, pass by our own products
and buy eastern apples at higher rates
1t is true that we have varieties OF ap
pies that are late keepers; and IN oc
casional seasons many kinds keep ul
to, and even beyond the average time
of the seasons east; but in the main oul
fruit can Justly be said to be wanting
in keeping qualities; and it is an i'm
portant consideration with fruit grow
ers of the west, to know IN what way
this defect can be remedied.
Various causes are assigned by our
borticuIturists for the evil Some
claim that the cause Is il the character
of our soil; others that the trouble lies
in the lack of hardness of our trees,
their want of acclimation; and others
still hold that the peculiarities of our
climate will account for tie whole DIFF
ficuly.
There is no doubt but that some
kinds OF soil are better adapted to the
growth OF healthy trees than others,
and that in some measure the fruit is
dependent upon the health and hardi-
ness of ihe stock. Trees that are want
ing in vitality are not generally very
fruitful, yet occasionally we see hem
produce apparently healthy, perfect
fruit; but It must be affected TO some
extent by the condition of the tree,
both in flavor and hardness. On low
clay bottom lands, unless the sol IS
well drained, by sub soiling or trench
Jug, in wet seasons the apples are much
more subject to early decay, and some
times it assumes almost the form of an
epidemic, so general and rapid is it in
its course.
To remedy the EVIL, where these are
the inducing cause, We must give |
greater care to the cultivation OF the |
orchard, in the selec ion of hardy vari-
eties; in the preparation of the soil
understanding where wet, and in using
every means to promote the healthy
growth of the tree. Every thing that
tends to increase the hardness and
healthiness of the parent stock will
contribute to the perfection of the
fruit; and with increased age and har
diness in our orchards, as the result of
better care and cultivation, there is
no doubt but that there will be a
great improvement in the constitution,
(Which will improve the keeping quail
ty) of our apples. j
But we think that in the peculiari- S
ties of our climate, lies the great cause
Of all this trouble. The latter part OF
summers are usually hot and dry, and !
are followed by warm and dry fall. 4;
In consequence our fruit ripens much
earlier than at the east. There, frost 6
and cool weather set in about the time :
the apples are reaGy 10 gather, here, I
the apples are dead ripe if permitted 4
10 stay on the trees until the weather [
becomes cool. Where the trees are J
healthy and the apples sohnd, if proper +
,are is used in picking and packing, r
lecay will not commence unit after C
lie fruit is dead ripe. Then if there is :
heat vineous fermentation =
and the apple begins :. o
lecay. If the temperature is kept b
lown and the air of the storeroom dry, 1'
hey can be Kept in this completely -
nature state Tor long time. Were we tc
0 pick our fruit as early in the season
) it would answer, and place it in a u
ry, cool place il would require much f.
onger time for it 10 reach the mature en-
tate when fermentation commences, isl
nan where it is permitted 10 hang on So
he tree until the season compels it to ~
e gathered. of
We have long been convinced that tb
be apple crop would he much better vi
Tere it gathered earlier, and the expe- w
ience OF the past season has confirmed
S in this opinion. Cold weather came liz
arly, almost before apples were ripe, al
nd rendered it necessary to gather Ia
hem some three or four weeks earlier =,
han common. As the result, we have "a
ever known a season at the west in tn
which apples kept 50 well. Fail apples al
asted with little or no extra care into
inter. We kept the Fameuse and ~
)omine until late in the spring. 1t Iv
lay be true, that were they gathered tit
s early every season, they would keep be
qually late, but here is not the least a.
oubt that by picking earlier we can
eep fruit much iater than we usually +o
o. &C
1t will be especially important to In
ather our apples early this fall. The vc
sason is at least three weeks in ad-
ance of what We have generally, and r..
ar winter apples are ripening fast. th
we would have any for winters use afi
e must retard this early maturity by cit
srly picking and protection from light ~ ~
nd heat. alb