22 



STUDIES OF POULTRY. 



the boxes to it for from twenty-four to forty-eight hours before 

 loading in the refrigerator car. 



When the freezer, between and 15 F. ( 18 to C.), is 

 to be used for holding, the boxes should be so placed in it that the air 

 circulates freely around each one. This is accomplished generally by 

 leaning the boxes at a sharp angle in a horizontal row rather than 

 by placing them in a perpendicular pile, shifting each box forward or 

 back of the median line in order to leave as much as possible of that 

 box uncovered by its successor. This is known in the trade as 

 " staggering " boxes, and is pictured in figure G. 



Forty-eight hours in a good freezer will very thoroughly harden 

 birds of the ordinary size packed not more than 12 to the box, and a 



FIG. 0. " Staggered " boxes. 



number of such boxes in a refrigerator car is a valuable aid in the 

 maintenance of an equably cold temperature. 



POULTRY REFRIGERATOR CARS. 



The facilities of a refrigerated killing and packing house such 

 as here discussed will avail but little in the getting of good poultry 

 to market if it is not supplemented b} 7 a system of transportation 

 which will maintain a constant low temperature for a sufficient length 

 of time to carry the chilled goods to the market center. It is the aim 

 of the refrigerator-car service to maintain such temperatures for such 

 lengths of time that products which are a thousand miles or more 

 from the point of consumption can be conveyed there in good order. 



For the satisfactory transportation of dry chilled poultry it is 

 advisable to use fine ice mixed with from 10 to 15 per cent of salt in 

 the bunkers of the refrigerator cars the year round. If the car is 

 built with sufficient insulation and if it is in good order that is, with 

 tight-fitting doors, unbroken lining, etc. ice and salt will maintain 

 a temperature in the middle of the car, 4 feet from the floor, of 40 F. 

 (4 C.) or under. If the car is to be filled with poultry alone, and 



[Cir. 64] 



