244 STATE HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY. 



them, and if they turn them over they won't find any fault if they find 

 the bright side down. I can not stop to do it when I am putting up a 

 hundred bushels per day. But I shake the baskets down ; they are shaken 

 as the peaches go in, and again when they are ready, but they will yet 

 settle somewhat when you put them on the train. When they get to the 

 dealer I say, "Turn your basket over carefully, if it don't look quite full, 

 and then you have a full basket and the best peaches are on top. 



Mr. Hamilton: Perhaps that is why the gentleman packs his peaches 

 with the best ones in the bottom. [Laughter.] 



COLD STORAGE WITHOUT ICE. 



BY MR. JOSEPH H. BILLMEYER OF HOLLOWAY. 



The room used is situated beneath a portion of the barn running toward 

 the north; is 35x35 feet, and eight feet high, and has repeatedly carried 

 over 1,100 barrels of apples from storing time till ready for disposal; 

 the object being to hold fruit so late as desired, until markets advance 

 in spring. The doors are cut in two between top and bottom, and sit- 

 uated on east and west sides. There is no stone wall above the ground, 

 and the floor is on a level with the ground. The sides are composed of 

 three thicknesses of board with building paper and air spaces between. 

 Windows are of double sash, triple glazed; doors constructed same as 

 sides — no sawdust. 



One or two kerosene lamps are seldom needed, and never more, to carry 

 the fruit through the coldest winters without injury. I have never had a 

 frozen apple, mildew, or mold. 



I control the temperature by opening and closing doors during cool 

 and warm times. The room has not been above thirty-eight degrees 

 since apple picking. I have an entrance way with tight doors at each 

 end, to prevent air escaping during ingress and egress. The floor is of 

 brick. If kept close the room will not change one degree per week 

 during warm weather. The barn bay floors, above this room, are double 

 and filled with mortar at the end of each board. 



BY MR. W. C. SMITH OF WESTON. 



To obtain the very best results in storing fruit it is desirable to begin 

 right. Care of the fruit must begin the moment it is gathered. A very 

 practical way in picking apples is to place the fruit in barrels so fast as 

 taken from the trees and leave it in the shade till the next morning, en- 

 tirely uncovered and exposed to the night air; and in the morning remove 

 it to 1he barn or storehouse while yet cool. In this way a lower tempera- 

 ture may be obtained than in any other that is not expensive. This will 

 rid the fruit of the heat of an October afternoon, which sometimes unfits 

 it for keeping. I consider this quite as important as anything in connec- 

 tion with storage, where outside air is depended on. Piling apples on the 

 ijround under the trees is principally objectionable because the fruit is 



