298 



INTERNATIONAL CONGRESS OF VITICULTURE 



handling. This is wholly overcome, however, by the advantage of more 

 uniform cooling and more prompt application of the process than is practi- 

 cable with the car cooling system. 



Investigations of the Effect of Pre-cooling on Table Grapes. 



The effect of pre-cooling on grapes was thoroughly studied by the De- 

 partment investigators during several seasons at Lodi, and one season at 

 Fresno, California. During three seasons at Lodi, the pre-cooling was accom- 

 plished by means of a portable refrigerating outfit constructed by the De- 

 partment. The work of these three seasons was confined to car pre-cooling. 

 The plan followed was to circulate cold air through the loaded car until the 

 average temperature of the fruit in the car reached about 40 F. In each car 

 cooled by the Department men, a series of marked crates were placed, some 

 on the bottom and some on the top tiers of the load. After the cooling was 

 finished the cars were forwarded to New York, where the marked crates 

 were carefully inspected by Department representatives and the decay was 

 carefully determined. Duplicate series of crates of grapes from the same 

 vineyards were placed and shipped in non-precooled cars to serve as checks. 

 Not less than ten cars were thus handled each year. 



In Table VI the data obtained from the three years shipments are pre- 

 sented together with the corresponding records obtained from the non-pre- 

 cooled check shipments. The percentages of decay found on arrival at New 

 York and two and three days after arrival are shown, the fruit being held in 

 the meantime under ordinary market conditions. 



TABLE VI. Average percentages of decay in pre-cooled and non-pre-cooled 

 commercially handled Tokay grapes, shipped during three seasons from 

 Lodi, California, to New York City. 



Pre-Cooling 



Non-Pre-Cooled 



On 



Arrival 

 % Decay 



First Season 6.6 



Second Season 7.5 



Third Season 6.5 



Averages 6.5 



12.0 



16.2 



1,1 



12.0 



16.5 



Only the records obtained from the cooling and shipment of commer- 

 cially handled crates are presented because it is the effect of the treatment 

 upon the carrying and market-holding qualities of the fruit handled under 

 ordinary methods of packing that interests the growers. It has already 

 been shown what can be accomplished through the medium of careful hand- 

 ling alone. The additional application of pre-cooling to carefully handled 

 grapes is an added safe-guard. But the effect on fruit packed and shipped 

 under ordinary commercial conditions is the crucial test of the value of the 

 work. 



