438 ANNUAL EEPOETS OF DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE. 



On January 31, 1918, orders Avere issued making compulsory upon 

 the part of licensees of the United States Food xYdministration the 

 use of the potato grades prepared by the Bureau of Markets, Avhich 

 were jointly recommended by the Department of Agriculture and the 

 Food Administration in September, 1917. Following the signing of 

 the armistice these regulations were canceled. A striking improve- 

 ment in the grading of i^otatoes resulted from the recommendation 

 and promulgation of these standards, and the best indication of the 

 need for national standard grades is the fact that these grades for 

 potatoes are still voluntarily in as wide use as they were before the 

 regulations making their use compulsory were canceled six months 

 ago. Several States have adopted these grades and made their use 

 compulsory. As a result of continued demonstrational and investiga- 

 tional work minor changes in these grades were recommended ~on. 

 February 10, 1919, and specifications for a fancy grade have been 

 worked out. This fancy grade will be used largely for the large, 

 smooth, bright potatoes produced in the irrigated sections of the 

 West. 



The grades recommended by the Bureau of Markets for domestic 

 Bermuda onions were again used by the Texas State inspectors dur- 

 ing the past season. The grading of northern or late onions is noA7 

 being studied in order that grade specifications may be recommended 

 by the end of the 1919 season. 



Investigations of the grading of tomatoes, cabbage, and of some 

 other vegetable crops have progressed to the point w^here it is be- 

 lieved that grade specifications can be recommended in time for use 

 during the next harvesting season. 



Study of the containers used in the marketing of perishables lias 

 progressed in a ver}^ satisfactory^ manner during the past fiscal year. 

 Growers, shippers, manufacturers, and the produce trade are showing 

 a greatly increased interest in package standardization. 



PRESERVATION OF FRUITS AND VEGETABLES IN TRANSIT AND STORAGE. 



During the greater part of the fiscal year 1919 this work w^as under 

 the supervision of Mr. H. J. Ramsey and after his resignation was 

 directed jointly by Messrs. C. W. Mann and A. W. McKay. Antici- 

 ]Dating tiie fact that the funds for this project Avould be greatly 

 reduced by the elimination of the emergency appropriation on June 

 30, 1919, it was necessary to adopt a policy of curtailment during 

 the closing months of the past fiscal year and to dismiss many trained 

 investigators. 



Particular attention was given to the methods of handling potatoes 

 in the Delta section of California: cantaloupes in California, Arizona, 

 Colorado, and Indiana ; and lettuce, tomatoes, spinach, and onions in 

 the Gulf States and Florida. Demonstrations were made to point 

 out to growers that decay in the transportation of these products is 

 primarily due to faulty methods of handling and refrigerating. 

 Marked reductions in losses resulted from the application of more 

 careful methods of digging and grading potatoes and the main- 

 tenance of suitable temperature in refrigerator cars and storage 

 houses and by effecting certain improvements in the handling of 

 lettuce, such as the more complete removal of the lower leaves of each 

 head in harvesting, and shipment in ventilated crates instead of 

 closed hampers. It was found that the decay of strawberries in 



