BUREAU OF PLANT INDUSTRY. 347 



The work has met with very hearty cooperation. Nearly all of 

 the fruit used in the experiments was supplied without charge to the 

 Department. The investiofations have resulted in a marked improve- 

 ment in the handling of lemons. The work has been both demon- 

 strational and investigational. As definite results were obtained they 

 were quickly communicated to the growers and packers. At the close 

 of the work a series of meetings was held in different packing houses, 

 and the results were presented by means of charts and tables and all 

 phases of the work were fully explained and discussed. These meet- 

 ings were well attended, as many as 200 growers attending one ses- 

 sion, and great interest was manifested. 



Lemon storage. — Investigations in lemon storage were continued 

 on a small scale during the past year, mainly with the object of cor- 

 roborating some of the results of previous seasons. The effect of 

 different storage temperatures was again studied. Both fresh and 

 cured fruit was held at 32°, 37°, and a temperature approximating 

 40° F., as compared with common cellar-storage conditions. The 40° 

 temperature gave much the best results, but as the temperature of 

 the storage room fluctuated considerably, further work at this tem- 

 perature is advisable. The lemons kept best under cellar conditions, 

 but shrinkage due to drying out was greater than is desirable. It is 

 planned to continue these investigations through the coming season, 

 using 40° F. as a minimum and again comparing this and one or two 

 intermediate temperatures with the cellar-storage conditions. 



Florida citrus fruits. — Investigations were continued during the 

 season of 1909-10 relative to the handling of Florida citrus fruits, 

 and it was planned to carry on the work on a broader scale. Owing 

 to unfavorable weather conditions, however, in December, 1909, and 

 January, 1910, the progress of the work was seriously hampered. 

 The work was carried out along lines similar to those of former 

 seasons, including the study of the effect of handling upon the occur- 

 rence of blue-mold decay and of the effect of washing the fruit. 

 Some shipping work was done, but much less than was planned, 

 owing to the unfavorable weather conditions. 



Field investigations were made a feature of the season's work. In 

 several districts the Bureau workers made careful inspections of the 

 work of picking gangs and packing houses, pointing out the amount 

 of injury due to careless work and the effect 'of such injuries. As a 

 result of these demonstrations and instructions the work done by 

 picking gangs showed material improvement during the season. 



The results of the washing experiments show considerable vari- 

 ation, depending upon the character of the work. In some sections 

 only slight decay resulted from the washing of fruit, while in others 

 where the work was carelessly done a material loss from decaj^ fol- 

 lowed. Where the machinery was operated at high speed, or where 

 the wash water was not changed often enough to insure cleanliness, 

 decay was always materially increased. An appreciable percentage 

 of long stems in the fruit to be washed always resulted in increased 

 decay. A summary of all the data obtained shows that washing in- 

 creases the chance for decay, and should only be resorted to when 

 absolutely necessary to place the fruit in marketable condition. 

 When fruit nmst be washed the work should be done with the greatest 

 care, both in the handling and the operation of the machinery and in 

 using clean water. 



