REPORT OF THE SECRETARY OF AGRICULTURE. XXV 



ease. The general opinion that the foliage and fruit of the coffee 

 shrub are benefited by shade is erroneous, but the shading of the 

 ground is often a cultural advantage. The nitrogen-collecting powers 

 of leguminous shade trees have also contributed largel}' to the good 

 effects commonly ascribed to shade, so that the selection of the best 

 leguminous shade trees and soiling crops is of much importance to the 

 coffee planter. 



POMOLOGICAL, INVESTIGATIONS. 



Fruit growing is the dominant type of agriculture in many parts of 

 the country. Formerly it was an incidental feature of farm manage- 

 ment. Now enough of certain kinds are grown for domestic use, and 

 a large export trade has been developed. America grows fruit on an 

 extensive scale in contrast with the small, garden-like areas of P2urope. 

 In America fruit is a common article of diet; in European countries 

 it is a luxury. Europeans are beginning to know and value American 

 fruits, but the principal consuming population of Europe is 3"et unac- 

 quainted with them. There are great possil)ilities in the export trade. 



Domestic practices in culture and in methods of handling and mar- 

 keting fruits are in need of improvement. Greater knowledge con- 

 cerning the adaptability and distribution of varieties is urgent, and 

 knowledge concerning the adaptability of European fruits to American 

 conditions is desirable. Along' these lines the pomological investiga- 

 tions of the Department have been largely proceeding since my last 

 report, and in the office the great mass of scattered information on 

 pomological matters and pomological collections is being systematized 

 for practical use. 



THE COI.D STORAGE OF FRUITS. 



Cold storage, or refrigeration, is a necessar}' adjunct to the rapidly 

 developing fruit interests of the country. There is little known about 

 the influences which govern the keeping qualities of fruits and vege- 

 tables. The Department is investigating this subject, and has strong 

 support from fruit growers, fruit handlers, and warehousemen. The 

 Bureau of Chemistr}^ is cooperating with the Pomological Investiga- 

 tions in studying the chemistry of fruit-ripening processes. The 

 investigation will require several j'ears to secure general conclusions, 

 but already important commercial results have been obtained. 



"Scald," or a skin discoloration, is one of the serious storage diffi- 

 culties with many apples. The cause is yet undetermined, but the 

 investigations indicate that the susceptibility can be largely reduced 

 by allowing the apples to become more highl}^ colored or more mature 

 than usual before picking. Such fruit also keeps equallv well in 

 storage. Pears and peaches, though usually stored with difficult}^ in a 

 temperature of 36°, keep much better in a temperature not above 32°. 



