BUREAU OF MARKETS. 439 



transit results largely from avoidable injuries inflicted in picking 

 i\nd washing operations and from inefficient refrigeration. 



Additional data were secured regarding the effect on the keeping 

 (jiialities of perishables of various types of refrigerator cars, methods 

 of loading, etc. Vegetables from the South shipped in properly con- 

 structed cars cooled 1 an hour faster than those forwarded in cars 

 of the ordinary type and deteriorated less than one-third as mucli. 

 Experimental shipments to determine the practicability of thenise 

 of salt and ice to secure more rapid cooling were continued, and a 

 survey of icing stations was undertaken with a view to suggestina' 

 means of reducing present losses of ice. 



The fundamental principles underlying the proper design and 

 ( onstruction of heater cars for use in the northern sections of the 

 country, where severe losses occur in shipments during cold weather, 

 were carefully studied in a special testing plant equipped by the 

 Bureau for this purpose at Roseville, Calif. Specifications for 

 heater cars, based on the results of these tests, have been adopted by 

 Ihe Railroad Administration. 



Investigations and demonstrations regarding the factors under- 

 lying the successful storage of fruits and vegetables were continued. 

 In the Pacific northwest and in Colorado 40 common storage houses 

 for apples and more than 200 potato-storage houses and cellars were 

 built or modified in accordance with i)lans or suggestions furnisliod 

 l)y this Bureau, and the capacity of sweet potato storage houses built 

 in the South directly or partly as a result of this demonstrational 

 work amounts to about 3,000.000 bushels. 



TJie introduction several years ago by t^e Department of methods 

 of packing California grapes in redwood sawdust resulted in extend- 

 ing the marketing season of such grapes nearly three months and in 

 widening the possible area of distribution. On account of a shortage 

 of redwood, efforts have been made to find a substitute, with the 

 result that spruce, a material hitherto untried, has been found to be 

 very effective. Further demonstration of the practical value of 

 spruce packing will be made next season. Tlie curtailment of this 

 grape-growing industry from the lack of a suitable filler will be 

 avoided should spruce, of which there is a very large supply on the 

 Pacific coast, prove to be as satisfactory a packing material as 

 redwood. 



ComprehensiA'e investigations have been conducted to determine 

 the best methods of handling fruits and vegetables which haA'e been 

 injured by freezing in transit, and demonstrations have been made to 

 illustrate practicable methods of salvaging frozen or partly frozen 

 products, attention being called to the possibility of their use both 

 for food and manufacturing purposes. The temperatures at which 

 various products freeze or are injured by excessive chilling have been 

 studied and preliminary investigations have been carried on to 

 determine the factors which affect the keeping quality of fruits and 

 vegetables preserved by freezing storage. 



PAILY 3IATL REPORTS OF CAR-LOT SIIIPIMENTS OF FRTjITS AND VEGETABLES. 



UNLOAD REPORTS. 



Daily mail reports of car-lot shipments of all fresli and dried fruits 

 and vegetables have been obtained from common carriers during the 



