BUREAU OF MAEKETS. 439 



tituisit results largely from avoidable injuries inflicted in picking 

 r.nd ^Yaslling operations and from inefficient refrigeration. 



Additional data were secured regarding the effect on tlie keeping 

 (jualities of perishables of various types of refrigerator cars, methods 

 of loading, etc. Vegetables from the South shipped in properly con- 

 structed cars cooled 1° an hour faster than those forwarded in cars 

 of the ordinary type and deteriorated less than one-third as much. 

 Experimental shipments to determine the practicability of the u-e 

 of salt and ice to secure more rapid cooling were continued, and a 

 survey of icing stations was undertaken with a view to suggesting 

 means of reducing present losses of ice. 



The fundamental principles underlying the proper design and 

 construction of heater cars for use in the northern sections of tlie 

 countr}^ where severe losses occur in shipments during cold weather, 

 were carefullv studied in a special testing plant equipped by the 

 Bureau for this purpose at Rosevillc, Calif. Specifications for 

 heater cars, based on the results of these tests, have been adopted by 

 the Railroad Administration. 



Investigations and demonstrations regarding the factors under- 

 lying the successful storage of fruits and vegetal^les were continued. 

 In the Pacific nortliAvest and in Colorado 40 common storage houses 

 for apples and more than 200 potato-storage houses and cellars were 

 built or modified in accordance with plans or suggestions furnished 

 by this Bureau, and the capacity of sweet potato storage houses built 

 in the South direct!}" or partly as a result of this demonstrational 

 work amounts to about .3,000,000 bushels. 



The introduction several years ago by the Department of methods 

 of packing California grapes in redwood sawdust resulted in extend- 

 ing the marketing season of such grapes nearl}^ three months and in 

 widening the possible area of distribution. On account of a shortage 

 of redwood, efforts have been made to find a substitute, with tlie 

 result that spruce, a material hitherto untried, has been found to be 

 very effective. Further demonstration of the practical value of 

 spruce packing will 1;e made next season. The curtailment of this 

 grape-groviing industry from the lack of a suitable filler vrill be 

 avoided should spruce, of which there is a very large supply on the 

 Pacific coast, prove to be as satisfactory a packing material as 

 redwood. 



Comprehensive investigations have been conducted to determine 

 the best methods of handling fruits and vegetables which have been 

 injured by freezing in transit, and demonstrations have been made to 

 illustrate practicable methods of salvaging frozen or partly frozen 

 products, attention being called to the possibility of their use both 

 for food and nianufactiu-ing ]:)urposes. The temperatures at which 

 various products freeze or are injured by excessive chilling have been 

 .studied and preliminary investigations have been carried on to 

 determine the factors Avhich affect the keeping qualit}^ of fruits and 

 vegetables preserved bj' freezing storage. 



nAlLY 3IATL EEPOUTS OF CAIJ-LOT SIIIP^IEXTS OF FRUITS AND VEGF/rABLKS. 



r.NT.OAU HEPOKTS. 



Dai/}' mail reports of car-lot shi]:)ments of all fresli and dried fruits 

 and \ca'etables have been obtained from common carriers clurinii" the 



