36 AGRICULTURE OF MAINE. 



The bruising of the fruit and other injuries which resulted from 

 its passing by gravity through the overhead machinery shown 

 in the old style packing house contributed a great deal to the 

 decay of the fruit. The taking out of the overhead apparatus 

 and the substitution of that which would eliminate all dropping 

 of the fruit was considered essential in order that the fruit 

 might be handled with the least possible injury. When all 

 injuries were eliminated and the fruit was handled with the 

 greatest possible care from the time it was picked until it was 

 packed, the decay of the fruit was almost entirely prevented. 



Similar investigations carried on in connection with the 

 handling of other fruits have further emphasized the fact that 

 much of the loss and other difficulties which fruit growers and 

 fruit dealers have experienced is due to the rough handling of 

 the fruit. Where all bruises and other injuries are eliminated, 

 the keeping qualities of the fruit, other things being equal, are 

 very greatly enhanced. A great many of the injuries which 

 result in trouble in storage or subsequent to storage after the 

 fruit is removed for marketing are due to bruises and other 

 injuries which are almost imperceptible. 



Attention was called to the heating of orchards to prevent 

 injury by frosts in two or three views showing smudge pots, 

 storage tanks for oil, etc. In contrast with this operation 

 which has become a prominent one in some sections of the 

 country in the management of the orchards, attention was di- 

 rected to the fact that in Maine injury by unseasonable spring 

 frosts was practically unknown and that the growers in this 

 State were particularly fortunate in this respect as they had no 

 occasion to consider the matter of orchard heating so far as the 

 management of their own orchards was concerned. 



In order to give some idea of the character and the extent 

 of the root system of apple trees, several views were thrown 

 on the screen showing the roots, their ramifications through 

 the soil and some of the influences in their development. As 

 a matter of general interest, the portable refrigerating plant 

 which was built by the Office of Field Investigations in Pomol- 

 ogy was shown. This refrigerating plant is used for experi- 

 mental work in the fruit transportation and storage investiga- 

 tions conducted by that Office, the principal object of this 



