TRANSPORTATION 147 



Some of the larger companies have gone so far as to 

 have their own boats and have worked out a very fine 

 system of handling fruit while in transit. The distance 

 or length of time fruit can be shipped will depend, of 

 course, upon the conditions of climate and the kind and 

 variety of the fruit handled. 



In a general way, however, the duration of fruit after 

 picking, without some means of cold storage, would be 

 about as follows for the different types of fruits : Straw- 

 berry, 48 to 72 hours; raspberry, 48 to 72 hours; black- 

 berry, 72 to 86 hours; peach, 4 to 8 days; plum, 

 5 to 10 days; grape, 15 to 30 days; pear, 36 to 60 days; 

 apple, 60 to 90 days ; and citrus fruits, 30 to 60 days. 



By means of cold storage, together with the proper 

 facilities for handling the fruit, these periods of time 

 can be nearly doubled. Where plums will keep from 5 

 to 10 days in ordinary storage without ice, under the 

 best conditions they may be kept in good shape from 10 

 to 20 days. 



Loading Fruit into Cars. The transportation of fruit 

 by rail calls for a very careful consideration in the 

 methods of loading it into the car for shipment. In the 

 first place, all the more perishable fruits must be so piled 

 or placed in the cars that they will have a free circula- 

 tion of air about every package. In the second place, 

 they must be firm so that the switching or jolting of the 

 car will not displace them. Fruit packages are not 

 overly strong, and if once loosened before reaching their 

 destination are likely to be broken and the fruit ruined. 



There are three general methods in use for the pack- 

 ing of boxed fruit in cars. In some cases they are stood 

 on end; in others on their side; and in a few cases, 



