HORTICULTURE 201 



care of the owner. He can examine it when he wishes and sort 

 when necessary ; he can sell it by the bushel or barrel in a week or 

 a month and pay no extra storage fee. 



3. Should the commodity deteriorate in quality, or the price 

 fail to advance, the owner is out nothing for transportation and 

 little for storage. 



Advantages of Storing Fruit in the Cities. Fruit stored in 

 the warehouses of the larger cities has several advantages which with 

 commercial growers are very important. 



1. It is nearer the market, where it can be disposed of on the 

 shortest notice. This enables the holder to take advantage of a 

 sudden turn in price for the better. By use of the telegraph he 

 can dispose of his whole crop in a few minutes. 



2. By storing in city warehouses, fruit does not usually have 

 to be shipped after it has been in storage. Shipping after storage 

 is an injurious process and should be avoided. But if it must be 

 done, the facilities for loading in the large warehouses are such 

 that the fruit need not undergo change of temperature or injury. 

 Adjoining the storage rooms are loading sheds which are kept 

 very cool. The refrigerator cars in which the fruit is to be shipped 

 are run into the sheds and the fruit is taken from the storage room 

 directly into the cars, which are already cooled to a low temperature. 



3. Fruit in city warehouses is practically on exhibition all 

 the time, and if it is of superior quality it is a standing advertise- 

 ment for the owner. Buyers find out to whom to look for such fruit. 

 Commercial reputation and standing is no small thing in these 

 pushing times. A man must not only grow fruit of first quality, 

 lie must make it known that he grows it. He will profit by storing 

 it where buyers can find it. (Kas. E. S. B. 84.) 



KEEPING QUALITY OP APPLES. 



Like all farm and orchard operations of the present time, 

 apple storage must receive careful attention to insure success. The 

 grower or buyer must learn what varieties are suitable for storage, 

 what conditions must be provided to secure the best and most econ- 

 omical management of the stored fruit, and at what time and under 

 what conditions the different varieties must be put on the market. 

 Apples are exceedingly variable in length of keeping: Early Har- 

 vest often becomes too ripe and mealy for choice eating while still 

 upon the tree; while Schodack, in ordinary storage, may keep 

 well until midsummer of the next year. They also vary in behavior 

 in storage, some varieties scalding, shrinking, losing flavor and be- 

 coming dull colored and unattractive, while others, after six months 

 keeping, come out smooth, bright, fragrant and crisp. These varia- 

 tions in behavior are to a great extent varietal characteristics ; yet the 

 same variety grown upon sand or upon clay, grown in the North or 

 in the South, grown in a wet season or a dry one, may show very 

 striking differences. The problem of selecting varieties and storing 

 them properly is, therefore, a complex one; and requires careful 

 study. 



Conditions Affecting "Keeping Quality of Apples. The keep- 



