488 ANNUAL, REPORTS OF DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE. 



work than those now available. The examination of new types of 

 dusters submitted by manufacturers, with suggestions as to modifi- 

 cations, was continued, as was the policy of conferring with and 

 advising planters in regard to dusting operations. The text of a 

 bulletin published during the year tells of the development of cotton- 

 dusting machinery. 



The work of the bureau in cooperating with the Bureau of Plant 

 Industry in the investigation of fruit and vegetable storage and 

 transportation was largely of an advisory or consulting nature, and 

 had to do particularly with the plans for a proposed precooling 

 plant to be erected in Porto Rico and the refrigeration equipment of 

 steamships engaged in transporting citrus fruit from Porto Rico. 

 In the latter instance recommendations were made which would per- 

 mit of a saving of 23 per cent of the space devoted to refrigerating 

 equipment in the plans submitted by the builders, as well as more 

 effective operation of the refrigerating plant with less danger of 

 damage to the cargo by freezing. Assistance was given in the 

 preparation of experimental shipments of strawberries in refriger- 

 ator cars for the purpose of studying transit temperatures and re- 

 frigeration conditions. Inspections were made of citrus precooling 

 plants in Florida and plants in Michigan used for precooling of 

 berries and other small fruits. The few tests made were suggestive of 

 certain possibilities, especially with respect to the precooling of citrus 

 fruits in Florida, where the refrigeration of the air blast is accom- 

 plished by means of cold brine sprayed directly into the air. The 

 brine-spray method may well be closely studied, as it seems probable 

 that it will have a very distinct field, especially in connection with 

 precooling and possibly also with the economical and effective cool- 

 ing and humidification of storage rooms. Investigations in fruit 

 storage included studies of the performance of two small apple- 

 storage cellars in which underblast ice and salt systems of cooling 

 had been installed upon the advice of the department. In both 

 cases the results were not altogether satisfactory from an engineer- 

 ing standpoint, owing to abnormal conditions and poor workman- 

 ship in construction. It is hoped that further work at these two 

 plants will develop valuable data bearing on the design of plants of 

 this character. 



Studies of the precooling of grapes were made at Dinuba, Calif. ^ 

 but due to the shortage of cars in the fall of 1922 it was impossible 

 to carry out the work as planned. 



An investigation of the problem involved in the transportation 

 of broccoli was undertaken and completed in the spring of 1923^ 

 and data of much value to the growers secured. An investigation 

 of the precooling of small fruits and cherries was in progress at the 

 close of the year. 



As an inevitable and very desirable result of the activities of the 

 bureau in the investigation of farm engineering problems, it is 

 called upon by farmers and others for information of great volume 

 and variety and for assistance in the solution of many problems of 

 a specific nature. This phase of the work of the bureau has grown 

 to such proportions that it seriously interferes with the progress 

 of important investigations by the technical personnel engaged in 

 farm engineering work. 



Although the bureau has prepared and has on hand a considerable 

 number of plans of farm buildings which are available to those 



