EXPERIMENT STATION. 27 



The spores of the fungi causing these rots are produced in 

 immense numbers, especially in the case of the last-mentioned 

 form, and as they are easily floated by slight currents of air, 

 they are widely distributed, and, in all ordinary forms of hand- 

 ling, apples are more or less exposed to infection by them, but 

 certain precautions will tend to limit the danger. Apples bar- 

 reled in the orchard w^ill be less likely to be infected than if 

 they are previously stored, uncovered, in dusty barns or moldy 

 cellars. The barrels themselves, especially flour barrels, are 

 likely to be sources of infection unless they are thoroughly 

 cleaned. The mold fungus producing the soft rot develops 

 abundantly on such barrels if they are exposed to moisture. 

 Heat and moisture favor the development of the rot-producing 

 fungi, hence the advisability of storing in cool and dry places. 

 In general it may be said that cold storage is the most practical 

 method of controlling the rots which we at present have. 



jSTovember 18, 1899, twelve boxes (bushel market boxes) of 

 Baldwin apples w^ere shipped to the Quincy Market Cold Stor- 

 age Company of Boston. The apples were No. I's, selected 

 from the mixed crop gathered at different dates during Octo- 

 ber. The boxes were filled after the apples had been thor- 

 oughly mixed to secure as great uniformity as possible; about 

 two fifths of them were wrapped in manila tissue paper. The 

 covers of the boxes were made of slats with spaces between- so 

 that there was ample chance for the circulation of air. The 

 boxes were withdrawn from cold storage, one each month, until 

 June, when they were withdrawn two per month until the 

 twelve had been exhausted. On receipt of the boxes the apples 

 were examined and the number of sound and rotten ones 

 counted. The sound ones were stored in the station's cold 

 storage room. A similar box for comparison had been kept 

 here from November 18. The following table shows the 

 results: 



