156 ANNUAL REPORTS OF DEPARTMENT OP AGRICULTURE. 



superior to the present grades of commercial tows. Such high-grade 

 tows are more readily and cheaply converted into paper than are the 

 present commercial tows, and many companies which manufacture 

 paper and fiber boards have stated that such tows would readily find 

 a market in the paper industry. A public-service patent has been 

 granted to the chemist who evolved the process, and a model machine 

 has been constructed and installed in a large fiber plant in Minnesota, 

 in order that a demonstration might be made and that the commer- 

 cial practicability of the process might be judged by a practical tow 

 manufacturer. 



INVESTIGATIONS OF CROP HANDLING AND STANDARDIZATION. 



COMMUNITY PRODUCTION OF DURANGO COTTON IN VIRGINIA. 



The community production of Durango cotton in eastern Virginia 

 is progressing satisfactorily. In the season of 1916 about 1,000 bales 

 of Durango cotton were produced in this section, which sold at 28 

 to 30 cents a pound. Under the supervision of this bureau some 200 

 acres of selected Durango cotton are being grown for the purpose of 

 producing superior planting seed. It has been found necessary to 

 institute special studies of harvesting and ginning methods to meet 

 the peculiar local conditions of humidity that generally obtain in the 

 Dismal Swamp region during harvest time. 



STUDIES OF THE STIMULATING EFFECT OF NEW CONDITIONS ON CORN. 



It has been demonstrated that with the effects of selection elimi- 

 nated the transfer of seed to a new locality results in an increase in 

 vigor and yield the first year. Failure to recognize this factor would 

 tend to an unwarranted- confidence in the results of the first year 

 following the introduction of a variety to a new locality. The results 

 of experiments demonstrating the stimulating effect of change have 

 been submitted for publication. 



TRANSIT REFRIGERATION AND FREEZING INVESTIGATIONS. 



Investigations begun during the fiscal year 1916 to determine the 

 proper condition of fruits and vegetables for shipment were con- 

 tinued on a much larger and more extensive scale during the season 

 of 1917. The work during the past year has conclusively demon- 

 strated that aside from the factors of handling fruit and preparing 

 it for shipment the most important factors in determining the condi- 

 tion of either fruits or vegetables in transit and after arrival on 

 the market are the temperature and conditions obtaining in refrig- 

 erator cars during transportation. 



Investigations during the past season have had in view mainly the 

 improvement in refrigerator-car equipment, especially as regards 

 insulation and facilities for free air circulation, in order to secure 

 not only the greatest rapidity in cooling, but also to insure the main- 

 tenance of temperatures in transit sufficiently low to make pos- 

 sible the delivery at the markets of perishables, such as fruit and 

 vegetables, in sound condition. The investigations have also included 



