164 EXPEEIMENT STATION" RECORD. 



to be sure of the proper adjustment of the instrument. A combined instrument, 

 containing both tent clamp and gage, is recommended for field work. 



Leakage through the weave of the cloth was found to be much more important 

 than that through visible holes. 



Other phases discussed are the method of stating leakage and leakage In 

 torn tents. 



FOODS— HUMAN NTJTRITION. 



Economic results of cold storag-e, James Wilson {U. S. Dept. Agr. Rpts. 

 1911, pp. 25-34). — A special investigation was undertaken by this Department, 

 in which detailed information regarding the cold storage industry was collected 

 by means of schedules submitted to the cold storage warehousemen, and prices 

 were compiled from the literature of the subject for the last 30 years. The 

 particular object was to secure data regarding fluctuations in prices before cold 

 storage existed or was of considerable importance, and to compare such data 

 with fluctuations in recent years during which the business has grown to large 

 proportions. On the basis of the information collected, such questions are 

 considered as the length of time commodities remain in storage, the principal 

 months when they are received, the percentage held for longer than a year, the 

 average length and the costs of storage, the tendency to uniformity of prices 

 throughout the year, speculation, and stored goods as a percentage of con- 

 sumption. 



In 1910-11, 47 per cent of the fresh beef placed in cold storage during the 

 year was received during September, October, and November; similarly, 59.8 

 per cent of the fresh mutton was received during August, September, and 

 October ; 59.2 per cent of the dressed poultry during November, December, and 

 January ; 70 per cent of the butter during June, July, and August ; and 79.4 

 per cent of the eggs during April, May, and June. As regards delivery, " the 

 important observation to be made is that the receipts into cold storage are 

 entirely or very nearly exhausted by the deliveries within 10 months." 



With respect to costs of storage, " it is evident that as the time of storage 

 lengthens, the costs and their percentage of the wholesale price must be multi- 

 plied by the number of months. If the storage is for 15 months, for instance, 

 the cost per pound ranges from 5.273 cts. for fresh mutton to 8.572 cts. for 

 butter, and is 8.898 cts. per dozen for eggs ; the costs for 15 months range from 

 3C.5 per cent of the wholesale price in the case of butter to 57.5 per cent in the 

 case of fresh mutton. For the average length of time in cold storage, as 

 ascertained in this investigation, the actual costs are for fresh beef, 0.997 ct. 

 per pound ; fresh mutton, 1.564 cts. per pound ; fresh pork, 0.35 ct. per pound ; 

 for poultry, 1.079 cts. per pound; for butter, 2.532 cts. per pound; for eggs, 

 3.505 cts. a dozen. The costs of storage for the average length of time are 7.9 

 per cent of the wholesale price for fresh beef ; 17.1 per cent for* fresh mutton ; 

 3.2 per cent for fresh pork ; 6.8 per cent for poultry ; 10.8 per cent for butter ; 

 and 18 per cent for eggs. Approximately, the wholesale prices of the com- 

 modities mentioned are increased by cold storage to the extent of the percent- 

 ages just given." 



Cold storage has influenced considerably the relative monthly consumption 

 of commodities and has made it more even throughout the year. "There has 

 also been a change in relative monthly prices, due to cold storage. In the case 

 of eggs the relative price has increased in the season of natural plenty and 

 diminished in the period of natural scarcity. ... In the cases of both butter 

 and eggs the annual price level has been raised by cold storage, for a reason- 

 apart from the costs." 



