438 AXXU.\L EEPOETS OF DEPARTME]!^'T OF AGEICULTUEE. 



Oil January 31, 1918, orders were issued making compulsory upon 

 the part of licensees of the ITiiited States Food xVdministration the 

 use of the j^otato grades prepared b^^ the Bureau of Markets, ATliich 

 -were jointly recommended by the Department of Agriculture and the 

 Food Administration in September. 1917. Following the signing of 

 the armistice these regulations were canceled. A striking improve- 

 ment in the grading of potatoes resulted from the recommendation 

 and promulgation of these standards, and the best indication of the 

 need for national standard grades is the fact that these grades for 

 potatoes are still voluntarily in as wide use as they were before the 

 regulations making their use compulsory were canceled six months 

 ago. Several States have adopted these grades and made their use 

 compulsory. As a result of continued demonstrational and investiga- 

 tional wovk minor changes in these grades were recommended on 

 February 10, 1919, and specifications for a fancy grade have been 

 Avorked out. This fanc}^ grade will be used largel}' for the large, 

 smooth, bright potatoes i^roduced in the irrigated sections of the 

 ^Yest. 



The grades recommended by the Bureau of Markets for domestic 

 Bermuda onions were again used by the Texas State inspectors dur- 

 ing the past season. The grading of northern or late onions is noAv 

 being studied in order that grade specifications may be recommended 

 by the end of the 1919 season. 



Investigations of the grading of tomatoes, cabbage, and of some 

 other vegetable crops have progressed to the point where it is be- 

 lieved that grade specifications can be recommended in time for use 

 during the next harvesting season. 



Stud}' of the containers used in the marketing of perishables has 

 progressed in a ver}" satisfactory nninnx?r during the past fiscal year. 

 Growers, shippers, manufacturers, and the produce trade are showing 

 a greatW increased interest in i)ackage standardization. 



PRESERVATION OF FRUITS AND VEGETABLES IN TRANSIT AND ST0R.\GE. 



During the greater part of the fiscal year 1919 this Avork Avas under 

 the supervision of Mr. FI. J. Eamsey and after his I'esignation was 

 directed jointly by jMcssrs. C. AV. Mann and A. W. McKay. Antici- 

 pating the fact that the funds for this project would be greatly 

 reduced by the elimination of the emergenc}' appropriation on June 

 30, 1919, it was necessary to adopt a policy of curtailment during 

 the closing months of the past fiscal year and to dismiss many trained 

 investigators. 



Particular attention Avas given to the methods of handling potatoes 

 in the Delta section of California: cantaloupes in California, Arizona, 

 Colorado, and Indiana; and lettuce, tomatoes, spinacli, and onions in 

 the Gulf States and Florida. Demonstrations Averc made to point 

 out to growers that decay in the transportation of these products is 

 l)riinarily due to faulty methods of handling and refrigeiating. 

 Marked reductions in losses resulted from the application of more 

 careful methods of digging and grading potatoes and the main- 

 tenance of suitable temperature in refrigerator cars and storage 

 houses and })y effecting certain improvements in the handling of 

 lettuce, such as the more comi)lete removal of the loAver leaAes of each 

 head in harvesting, and shipment in ventilated crates instead of 

 closed haumcrs. It Avas found that the decay of strawberries in 



