STATE POMOLOGICAL SOCIETY. 8l 



Often during harvesting time weather conditions are such 

 that any delay in storing apples after picking causes severe loss. 

 This may be avoided if a storage were near at hand. If the 

 storage is some distance away, or cannot be reached except by 

 rail, still there is a chance for a heavy loss. The heavy traffic 

 which is being handled by the railroads often makes it impos- 

 sible for them to render immediate service. Cars properly 

 iced may be secured at a convenient distance from the orchard, 

 ■even then the terminal service is such that the fruit cannot be 

 placed in the storage at once. Again there is a chance for loss. 



In view of these difficulties which are encountered at har- 

 vesting by one who attempts to store fruit, the question is often 

 asked, "Is it possible for an individual, or a few growers in a 

 community, to build a storage of sufficient capacity to carry 

 their crop beyond the warm fall weather and incident low 

 prices, to a time later on when the fruit can be put upon the 

 market after the local product 'has been consumed, and in this 

 •way reach the higher prices? 



This problem has been worked upon in Illinois and answered 

 in the affirmative. Three storage houses having a capacity of 

 about 2500 barrels were erected in different parts of the state, 

 at a cost of about $3500 each. A temperature of 33° was 

 maintained with ice for seven months at a cost of about $140. 

 The total expense per barrel was 19 cents for the season. If 

 the storage could be run at its full capacity, enough would be 

 saved, taking 50 cents as the average storage charges for the 

 season, to pay for the building in six years. 



The advantage of having such a storage would be that the 

 selling period could be greatly prolonged; the fruit could go 

 into the storage at once, thus avoiding loss, and temporary 

 packages could be used and the final grading could be left until 

 packing. 



In the future the development of the cold storage will greatly 

 prolong the consumption period and enable the consumer to 

 have fruit the year round. Over-production and resulting low 

 prices will find a remedy. The market will demand a better 

 grade of fruit. Only the better grades will be handled in the 

 storage. Storing and marketing will receive as much attention 

 from the careful grower as cultivation and harv-esting. 



