170 Mississippi Valley Horticultural Society. 



spending increase of transportation, often taxing it to its utmost capacity, and 

 crowding it far beyond the power of companies to properly handle it. It is a mat- 

 ter that should interest every grower to such an extent that, individually and col- 

 lectively, they will make such demands as will bring the remedy. The shipments 

 from the South to the North are large enough to warrant us in demanding of rail- 

 road and express companies — 



1. Cars properly constructed for the preservation of perishable property confided 

 to their care. 



2. Enough of such cars to properly load and carry it. 



3. Asking that proper time be given at such stations as need it for careful 

 handling, etc. 



4. That such cars be run through from the point of loading to Chicago, or other 

 distributing points, without breaking bulk or transferring. 



Most of the above refers to express transportation. Kailroad companies supply 

 their customers with such cars and facilities much better than the express com- 

 panies. 



At certain seasons of the year the fruit carriage has now become a large part of 

 the revenue of tlie express companies. It is right, it is just, that we, the growers 

 and shippers of this produce, should have the best facilities afforded us to prop- 

 erly lay our products at the doors of our consumers, thereby stimulating our in- 

 dustry and increase the revenue of the transportation companies, and give the con- 

 sumers all over the country sounder and more palatable fruit, thus making all 

 "more happy." 



One illustration, showing the value of currents of air through fruit for long car- 

 riage : Strawberries grown in Florida and South Carolina come North on steamers 

 to New York. They pack in quart baskets, not tight boxes, in open slat crates 

 holding four layers of baskets, layers separated by light racks. On board steamer 

 they are placed in what they call a fan refrigerator, the air being forced through 

 the piles of crates by a fan run by the steamer's engine. This fruit, after several 

 days' voyage to New York, comes to Chicago by express, and if the weather is 

 cool the seller need not hasten to sell. If out of order, by turning out, the spoiled 

 fruit is easily picked out, the decay seeming to be in individual berries, not in 

 masses. You say this fruit coming early, and the weather cool, it ought to keep. 

 Very true, but by our present means of transportation can you pack and ship 

 strawberries in any quantity and at any time, and have them in salable shape two 

 weeks off the vines? They do. 



Upon motion of Dr. McKay, of Mississippi, the report was 

 amended as follows : 



Be it farther Resolved, That a standing committee of six members of this Society, 

 exclusive of the President, who shall be chairman of said committee, three of said 

 -committee to reside north of the Ohio river, and three south of the same, be ap- 

 pointed. It shall be the duty of this committee to make every honorable effort 

 within their power to secure such improvements in transportation as shall be most 

 advantageous to grower and consumer alike, and will, as we believe, be advanta- 

 geous to all concerned in this very important interest. 



