Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1912-11-07
Agricultural Help
Cold STORAGE Plant.

With the increased attention to ire
growing of apples the question OF whae
is proper storage is a vital topic rms
matter has been discussed by the Coun-
ell of the Maine Agricultural Expert
ment Station and it will be one OF tue
imnortant matters to be considered at
Tho animal meeting of the Maine Pomo-
logical Society at its Portland meeting.
The object of this letter is to outline
some of the problems that such plant
would make it possible To study
Perhaps the most important question
involved from pathological standpoint
is the need of more thorough study o.
the factors involved in the production
of .scald, of fruit in storage. 1t IS
known that some varieties of apples
scald worse than others and that vita
these varieties the trouble is worse
some wears than others. 1t is known
that the maturity of the fruit when
picked and the condition of storage are
influencing factors. but the aetual cause
is not known. 1t is not known why some
varieties scald and others do not, am
why the trouble appears under some
conditions and not under others
In Maine there are several alheFeH'
forms of apple decay, each caused by
specific fungus. There is need oil more
accurate experimental work. to determine
the effect of cold storage in RESTRAINING
the development of rot induced py eaeh
of these fungi independent OF tue
others. In a cold storage plant TINS
could be tested out with quite number
of varieties of apples from dinereht
parts of the State. Associated with thE
ia the question of whether or not apples
of the same variety produced in different
parts of the State show a difference III
their resistance to these various FORMS
of decay, either in ordinary storage or
i'm cold storage. In other words, DO local
soil and climatic conditions influence the
keeping qualities of the fruit? Also GO
fertilization and tillage effect the keep
ing qualities of the fruit?
There is no accurate data as to length
of keeping in cold storage, as compared
with ordinary cellar storage OF the dit--
ferent varieties of apples grown IN
Maine. Some of these varieties have
been tested in other states where the
fruit was grown under different climatic
conditions and Maine fruit has been
shipped away to be stored. All OF these
data are valuable and suggestive, put
they do not furnish the owner OF
large orchard or the members OF CO.
operative association the facts Whlch
will give them accurate information as
to the results they might expect III they
were to build a cold storage plant ana
place their apples in it as fast as mar
vested There is reason to believe that
Maine fruit placed in cold storage as
soon as picked would go on the market
at the end of the storage period In better
shape than that exposed. to warm ran
temperatures for some time, especially
that packed away in closed cars for sew
eral days before storing. But this ana
allied matters need to be tested expert
mentally.
Several questions are raised by the
above statements such as: How much
longer win the different varieties Of
Maine grown apples remain in prime
condition in cold storage than in good
cellar storage? What Maine grown va
rieties is 1t profitable to store in this
way? What grains are there. if any,
aside from the lessened expense of stor-
| ing fruit locally over storing 1t in some
large shipping center like Boston or
Portland?
There are many other problems that
| need experimental study, such as the
| effect of different styles of packages up
| on the keeping qualities and loss Of
| weight of the fruit, the effect of wrap
ping the individual apples with various
| kinds of paper. proper temperature and
| moisture content of the air most suita-
| HE for the different varieties While in
| cold storage.
1 g.. mn
| somewhat similar studies upon the keep
| ing of potatoes. While the successful
housing of potatoes up to early March
has been worked out fairly well in this