348 ANNUAL REPORTS OF DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE. 



The sliippinii^ experiments consisted of the forwardinii^ of a series 

 of boxes to u'ashiniijton, each series containing carefully liandlod and 

 selected fruits packed very carefully unuer the supervision of the 

 Bureau workers, and the same fruit picked, handled, and packed 

 under ordinary commercial packing-house conditions. The ellect 

 of delay in packing and sliij^ping was investigated. Inspections were 

 made on the da}' of arrival at Washingt;)n and one, two, and three 

 •weeks thereafter, the fruit being held under ordinary market condi- 

 tions. AVhile the data obtained this season are rather meager, 

 they are consistent and clean-cut, and show (1) that the least decay 

 follows immediate packing and shipping; (2) that there is least 

 decay in carefully handled and packed fruit and most in injured 

 fruit; and (3) that less decay follows delay in packing carefully 

 picked and handled fruit than in packing commercially handled or 

 injured fruit. 



The Bureau investigations have had a strong influence on the citrus 

 industry in Florida. Improvement in the methods of handling is 

 following the work in all sections of the State. Business and mar- 

 keting methods have been changed to raise the standard. During 

 the past year the Florida Citrus Exchange was organized and im- 

 provement in the marketing system and distribution of the crop has 

 followed. Many new and up-to-date packing houses have been built 

 and more are projected. The Bureau investigations should be con- 

 tinued at least through another season. Further demonstration work 

 is necessary, and the shipping and washing experiments should be 

 continued on a broader and more comprehensive scale. 



California apple storage. — "When investigations in apple storage 

 were begun five years ago in California some of the varieties of 

 apples from the Pajaro Valley were found to be affected in cold stor- 

 age by a peculiar premature browning of the flesh of the fruit. This 

 trouble, which has been designated as " internal browning," is worst 

 on the Yellow Newtown, one of the principal varieties produced in 

 the valley. Nothing just like it has been observed in fruit from any 

 other section of the United States. All efforts in connection with 

 the Bureau apple cold-storage investigations in California have been 

 directed toward finding the cause of the trouble and some method of 

 avoiding or overcoming it. The relation of the character of the soil, 

 of delayed storage, and of stage of maturity when picked have all 

 been carefully studied, but without yielding definite results. Last 

 year the effect of different storage temperatures was studied. Lots 

 of apples of the three leading varieties, Yellow Bellflower, Yellow 

 Newtown, and Red Pearmain, grown in the district were held at 32°, 

 at 34° to 35°, and at 37° F, Inspections were made in December, 

 January, March, and April. The behavior of the fruit after with- 

 drawal from storage was determined by holding the different lots 

 ten days at common market temperatures. 



The results show a distinct relation between the storage tempera- 

 tures and the occurrence of the internal browning. Much less 

 browning was noted in the 33° to 35° F. room than in the 32°, and 

 still less in the 37° room. The latter temperature was found to be 

 too high for commercial storage, except for a short time, on account 

 of rapid ripening and the development of a " waxy " appearance. 

 The external ajjpearance of all varieties was best in the lots held at 



