418 BROOKLYN BOTANIC GARDEN MEMOIRS 
citrus fruits and also in recent investigations of raspberry, strawberry, 
and cranberry losses. 
The practice of refrigeration of fruits and vegetables in transit 
is for two purposes, viz.: to retard the natural ripening processes which 
continue after the crop is harvested and to prevent the development 
of destructive fungi which are assumed to be present and are likely 
to develop unless a constant low temperature is maintained. In 
many cases it is practically impossible to eliminate the organisms 
which cause decay and all the handling in such cases must be with the 
presumption of their presence and the possibility of their rapid develop- 
ment under favorable conditions. 
Each product and each fungus has its own peculiarities and reac- 
tions under various conditions and treatment. This may be illustrated 
by citing a few specific cases. 
STEM—END Rot AND ANTHRACNOSE OF WATERMELON 
Meier® has given an account of a decay of watermelons in the 
field and in transit, caused by a species of Diplodia. It has been 
found that this organism is a wound parasite, and infection takes 
place through the stem end of a melon after it has been cut from the 
vine. A practical method of preventing this infection by the appli- 
cation of a fungicide before shipment has been found to be the simplest 
means of preventing decay from this cause. The anthracnose of 
watermelons can also be largely controlled by proper field treatment. 
LEAK OF POTATOES 
This trouble, which is most prevalent on the Pacific coast, has 
been found by Hawkins® to be due chiefly to Pythium debaryanum. 
It has been shown that infection occurs in the field and through wounds 
only; hence, the most practical means of prevention is to avoid as 
much as possible injury in digging and handling and to sort out all 
wounded potatoes before shipping. This is a case in which trans- 
portation methods and facilities are not the controlling factor in deter- 
mining the condition of the product upon its arrival in the market, but 
are of minor importance. 
Potatoes, watermelons, and similar products which are not usually 
shipped under refrigeration can fortunately be more or less satis- 
factorily insured against loss by proper treatment previous to ship- 
ment. The temperature, ventilation and handling of such products 
® Meier, F. C. Watermelon stem-end rot. Journal of Agricultural Research 
6: 149-152. Ap. 24, 1916. 
® Hawkins, Lon A. The disease of potatoes known as “‘Leak.’’ In Jour. Agri. 
Res, 6: 627-640. 1 fig. pl. XV. 10916. 
