The Canadian Horticulturist. 49 



open space necessary for receiving and discharging goods, and the storage floors 

 above are reached by heavy freight elevators. Passing through a small ante- 

 room on leaving the elevator, the " bulkhead," or thick wall, which is air-spaced 

 and padded so as to be nearly as possible a nonconductor of heat, is reached. 

 The heavy door swings open, and a change of 50 degrees to 70 degrees is 

 reaHzed in a second of time. The purity of the atmosphere and the uniform 

 temperature of each room or " box " are evident. 



Tiers of goods extend to the ceiling, closely packed along immense floor 

 spaces, or in smaller lots in separated rooms. To the visitor, who, as well as the 

 guide, is protected with heavy wraps, the long stretches of pipes and rafters 

 covered with frost crystals glittering in the electric light present a strange and 

 beautiful spectacle. Poultry, meats, fish, butter and eggs are stored in largest 

 quantity, and actual experiments show that these usually perishable goods can 

 be held in cold storage almost indefinitely, and meat and fish frozen and kept 

 for five years have come out in good, marketable condition. 



By this preservative process a glut is prevented in periods of too plentiful 

 supply, the season for perishable goods is lengthened to extend the year through, 

 and prices are equalized, to the profit of both producer and consumer. For 

 example, yearling turkeys, which last February were stored and frozen, and since 

 kept in a dry air of 10 to 15 degrees, now bring in the markets three cents a 

 pound more than the best spring turkeys. But even in this favoring market 

 there is not much profit to the merchant, since a cent per pound is charged for 

 the cold storage of poultry a month, and the higher rate of half a cent a pound 

 each month for freezing. The prices charged for storage are, however, nearly 

 50 per cent, lower than they were ten, or even five years ago. , 



The artificial low temperatures, besides their uses in arresting the decay and 

 retarding the maturity of fruits and vegetables, are applied to horticulture. 

 Nursery stock has been kept in a cool temperature in good condition for three 

 years, with the roots ready for growing when taken out. Hardy plants which 

 are intended for forcing are often frozen after they are lifted, so as to give them 

 their needed experience of a winter, after which they will push forward with 

 energy Imported pips of lily of the valley are largely he'd in cold storage, not 

 on!}' to preserve them, "but because they start more quickly and strongly after 

 having been frozen. Bermuda lily bulbs and other stock of this sort are also 

 treated successfully in this way. 



The Ben Davis apple will come up as a competitor for the first place in 

 the commercial orchard, notwithstanding all that is said against its quality. 

 After all, it is about as good as the Baldwin in quality, and in productiveness 

 of late years it is far in advance. Certainly in the South and West it takes the 

 lead of all apples for conmiercial purposes, and sells at above the average price 

 of winter stock in the Chicago market. 



