SHEAR: DISTRIBUTION OF PERISHABLE PLANT PRODUCTS 419 
en route, however, have considerable influence upon their condition 
at destination, even when all practical field treatments and precautions 
have been taken. 
Citrus FRUITS 
In the case of citrus fruits, it has been found that where the chief 
cause of decay is Penicillium, one of the important factors in its 
control is to avoid, as far as possible, all injury to the fruit in picking 
and packing, as the fungus enters only through wounds. It is also 
necessary to ship this fruit under proper refrigeration in order to 
insure its arrival in good condition in distant markets. While proper 
care in picking, packing, and handling are of primary importance in 
determining the keeping qualities of these fruits, proper refrigeration 
and prompt delivery are also essential to prevent loss from this and 
other organisms. 
CRANBERRY Rots 
Cranberries under proper conditions of cultivation and handling 
possess excellent shipping and keeping qualities and as they are mostly 
distributed during cool weather do not require refrigeration. Spray- 
ing to prevent fungous diseases in the field, careful picking and hand- 
ling with temporary storage in cool ventilated houses and packing 
in proper packages will ordinarily insure their reaching market in 
good condition with the usual means of transportation. Most of 
the losses occur before shipment and much loss of fruit held for late 
shipment is due to the natural ripening processes of the fruit, the 
action of the respiration products and smothering. Proper venti- 
lation would prevent the latter. 
RASPBERRY ROTS 
Ramsey’ reports the results of studies of shipments of raspberries 
from the Pacific coast under various conditions. The decay was 
attributed to Botrytis and Penicillium. He found that care in handling 
and prompt cooling were among the most important factors in suc- 
cessful shipment, but that maintaining a uniform low temperature in 
transit was also essential. 
STRAWBERRY LEAK 
In the cases of strawberries which have been investigated by 
Stevens and Wilcox,® of the Bureau of Plant Industry, for the past 
7 Ramsey, H. J. Factors governing the successful shipment of red raspberries 
from the Puyallup Valley. U.S. D. A. Bul. 274: 1915. 
8 Stevens, N. E., and Wilcox, R. B. Rhizopus rot of strawberries in transit. 
USS DeAC Bulle samue4—7. 19L7- 
