646 BOARD OF AGRICIILTUKE. 



those in the ceutral part "heated" or decayed more or less, indicating that 

 boxes sliould always be used," in bushel sizes and less, in which almost 

 invariably the fruit kept uniformly throughout. 



When boxes are removed to storage the temperature is then kept at 

 near 32° to 34° Fahrenheit, which has proven most satisfactory. On 

 the removal of the boxes from cold storage the lids are removed and 

 the fruit is permitted to air at least eight hours before being remorved 

 from tlieir places. This is done for t^vo reasons. The specimens are 

 said to sweat, in warming up and the inner wrapping being a soft tissue 

 paper, absorbs the moisture as fast as deposited, and the oiled wrappers 

 Iveeps out the air. 



Requisitions are given, usually once or twice a week, on the stock 

 in cold storage, and the exhibits are thus maintained. In this way as 

 certain fruits are needed they can be supplied in time to keep up a con- 

 tinuous exhibit. 



AVhen fruits are placed on the tables as many plates of five speci- 

 mens each as can be secured of each variety that possess merit are se- 

 lected and set aside to be passed on by the National Jury of Awards. 

 There is an entry made to the Chief of the Division of these plates, when 

 the jury is advised to inspect the same and file his or their decision for 

 future reference. It might be said that Indiana was the only exhibitor 

 that had its dislay in place in the Palace of Horticulture on the day of 

 the opening of the fair, thus securing the first one hundred points in the 

 grand contest for a medal offered by the division. The judges in their re- 

 ports showed that Indiana had on exhibition the best plates of Wegener, 

 Mann, Winesap and Newby apples yet shown. 



These exhibitions directly indicate the keeping qualities of fruits. 

 This is especially seen with the pomaceous and stone sorts, such as the 

 apple, pear, quince, apricot, plum and peach. But as the staple kinds, 

 such as apples and pears, are considered more in a commercial way, it 

 is but natural that they should receive closer consideration. With the 

 apples, the Salome, Fink, Winesap, Mann. Ben Davis, Northern Spy. 

 Jonathan and Rome Beauty deserve special mention, as many samples 

 of these varieties remained longest on the tables when taken froin cold 

 storage. It was found that the Grimes Golden, Wealthy, Stark. Fal- 

 hiwater and Yellow Bellflower retained much of their beauty and good 

 qualities, but held up poorly when placed on the tables. 



Among the pears late autumn and early winter varieties kept fairly 

 well, yet it is a fact that the solid, firm, good-keeper Kieffer ruins in cold 

 storage. It becomes black in color, insijiid in taste, and worthless and 

 rots quickly. 



Most peaches are too tender to withstand the handling incident to 

 packing and storage, and it is tliought that they can not be kept satis- 

 factorily for commercial purposes. 



