100 STATE HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY 



the ice, thus completing the circulation. Good results can be obtained 

 with the two rooms upon the same level, if the arrangement is such that 

 the cold air can flow into the fruit-room and the warm air can find its way 

 over the ice. 



DISCUSSION, 



A Member: I would like to ask Prof. Taft what the temperature of the 

 ground about the tile may be expected to be? 



Prof. Xaft: It depends upon how deep the tile is, of course; if it is only 

 shallow it will drop down to the freezing point, but for the most part the 

 tile I laid are four to eight feet deep. The tiles go in about a foot below the 

 cellar bottom. I have a cellar, as I said, and only the lower end is at 

 the frost line. I expect to find that it does not drop at this depth under 

 40 degrees. It has been from about 50 to 55 up to the last week. I have 

 not the records for the last few days, but it ran about 50 degrees. 



Mr. Morrill: What is the best temperature for apples? 



Prof. Taft: I like to get it down to 35 degrees, or even a little less. 

 I mentioned about 38 degrees as best for a house of this kind, because 

 there will at best be some variation. Suppose we have a fairly warm time 

 and have managed to hold the temperature down as low as 34 or 35. If 

 we happen to have a change of 50 degrees, as we might, there is a chance 

 that we should lose more than the small margin we have allowed our- 

 selves; but if it be kept at 38 I think that gives us enough margin so that 

 we can stand a very great drop in temperature. As a rule the nearer to the 

 freezing point the temperature can be maintained the better. 



Q: Did you ever see apples frozen all winter? Prof. Taft: Yes, sir. 



Q: What was the result? Prof. Taft: Well, if they were frozen all 

 winter they were all right; but when they freeze in the fall, and thaw out 

 once or twice, there is more or less injury. I have seen apples that were 

 kept where the sun could not strike them and where they remained 

 frozen, and they came through all right. You will often find them in 

 orchards under the trees, where they have been covered by leaves; and 

 if you can only keep them frozen, as I said in the paper, that is all you 

 have to do. 



Prof. Waite: You board up vour building, vour wall, five times. 



Prof. Taft : Yes. 



Prof. Waite: Then you have five air-spaces? Prof. Taft: Six air- 

 spaces. 



Prof. Waite: Is it absolutely necessary to have as many as that? 



Prof. Taft : I think so, when the temperature drops down to 25 degrees 

 below zero. 



Prof. Waite: That is for an extreme. 



Prof. Slayton: What is the full thickness of the wall with these 

 spaces? 



Prof. Taft: It is about thirteen inches thick. 



Prof. Slayton: Would there be anything gained by having those air- 

 spaces larger, all of them four inches, for instance? 



Prof. Taft: Yes, sir; but it makes it a very clumsy wall. I have known 

 houses to be built with two four-inch air-spaces. I have, you see, practi- 

 cally that; I have a four-inch air-space, and four one-inch air-spaces. I 



