REPORT OP COMMITTEE ox PUBLICATION 291 



berries." The percentages of the decayed, injured berries, and shelled 

 berries were determined by weight. At first sight the determination by 

 weight may appear to be only a fair approximation. A comparison of per- 

 centages by count and by weight showed, however, that there was only a 

 very slight, if any, difference. Any inequalities due to the method of de- 

 termining the decay practically disappear in the large number of shipments 

 made. From twenty to thirty series were shipped each season. Inspections 

 were made on the day the fruit arrived in New York and on the third, fifth 

 and seventh days after arrival, the fruit being held, in the meantime, under 

 ordinary open market conditions. In this way the effect of the different 

 methods of treatment upon the market-holding qualities as well as upon the 

 shipping qualities was studied. 



Results of the United States Department Investigations. 



Table II gives a summary of three seasons' shipping experiments and 

 shows the percentages of decay found in the different lots of grapes on the 

 day of arrival, and on the third and fifth days after arrival. After the first 

 season, the use of redwood sawdust was substituted for ground cork in the 

 lots packed with a filler. 



TABLE II. Results of experiental shipments of Tokay grapes during three 

 successive seasons, from Lodi, California, to New York City, showing the 

 average percentages of decay in all shipments of commercially handled 

 and carefully handled fruit on arrival and on the third and fifth days 

 after arrival. 



On 3rd Day 5th Day 



Arrival after after 



Method of Packing at Arrival Arrival 



New York 

 % Decay % Decay % Decay 



Carefully handled with filler of ground cork *1.6 *4.2 *6.6 



Carefully handled with filler of redwood sawdust **1.2 **1.8 **2.5 



Carefully handled packed in crates 3.0 5.4 10.2 



Commercially handled packed in crates 6.8 10.6 21.8 



* Ground cork used only during one season. 

 ** Average of two seasons. 



The figures are significant in that they indicate the close relationship 

 existing between the type of handling given the fruit in preparing it for 

 shipment, the type of package used and the occurrence of decay while in 

 transit to market and after arrival in market. The results also show that 

 the effect of careful handling persists after the fruit arrives in the market, 

 thus giving the lots packed without appreciable injury a tremendous ad- 

 vantage over those arriving with considerable deterioration. Careful obser- 

 vation of a large number of the crates under investigation shows that five 

 per cent decay is about the limit of commercial soundness. Percentages of 

 decay ranging from five to ten per cent are noticeable; above ten per cent 

 indicates that the fruit must be used immediately and therefore must be 

 disposed of at a forced sale. Above fifteen per cent decay is beyond the 

 limits of marketable condition and packages showing more than this pro- 

 portion of decay will not find sale except at a heavy discount. 



