18 THE OOLD STORAGE OF SMALL FRUITS. 



Aside from the protection atforcled berries by its use, the wrapper 

 also adds to the attractiveness of a berry box. The idea of rendering- 

 the package more attractive has probably been the dominating one 

 with the berry growers who have made use of the wrapper, but, as 

 previously shown, its usefulness does not end with its esthetic value. 



In commercial cold storage, single rooms in storage houses are fre- 

 quently used for a wide range of commodities during the summer 

 months. It is not uncommon to find vegetables of various kinds and 

 even citrus fruits stored in the same room with berries. In a poorly 

 ventilated I'oom, the odors arising from these products are quickly 

 absorl)ed by the berries, rendering the flavor of the fruit objectionable. 

 The fruit lacks wholesomeness, and is therefore objectional)le to the 

 consumer, though it may be bright in color and of sound physiological 

 condition. " 



THE INFLUENCE OF OXYGEN GAS ON THE KEEPING QUALITY 



OF SMALL FRUITS. 



As the keeping quality of the small fruits was injured when they 

 were stored in an atmosphere containing an excess of carbon dioxid, 

 some tests were made l)y Mr. Gore to determine the influence of stor- 

 ing strawberries and raspberries in an atmosphere containing an excess 

 of oxygen. 



The strawberries used for the test were of the Gandy variety. A 

 few berries were soft when stored, but most of the fruit was firm and 

 dry. Several boxes were exposed to the usual conditions of the open 

 package, and several were kept in a large glass bell jar, which closely 

 fitted a ground glass plate. The air in this jar was then displaced 

 with oxygen of 90 to 95 per cent purity, and was renewed at intervals 



« The factors that influence the wholesomeness of a fruit in cold storage are com- 

 plex in nature. It is generally supposed that good quality is determined principally 

 by the length of time the fruit has been stored. The question, however, is more com- 

 plicated than this. The physical condition and flavor of the fruit at any period in its 

 storage life may be influenced by the weather conditions surrounding it before it is 

 stored or by a delay in storing the fruit, both of which may cause it to expend a 

 large part of its life before it is stored; they may be modified by the relation the 

 package or wra])per bears to the proper ventilation of the fruit or to the exclusion of 

 the impure air of the storage house; they may be modified l)y the rapidity of cool- 

 ing the produce after it is placed in the warehouse, by the relation of the storage- 

 house temperature to the life processes of the fruit, by the ventilation of the ware- 

 house, and finally by the effect of the length of time the fruit is in storage on all of 

 these factors. Until recently little attention has been paid to the factors that affect 

 the wholesomeness of cold-storage fruits, except the length of time a product is 

 stored and the temperature in which it is stored in the warehouse. The work of 

 the Bureau of Plant Industry along fruit-storage lines has emphasized the fact that 

 the question is much broader than is generally believed and that it needs careful 

 experimental consideration from several standpoints. — G. H. P. 



108 



