254 



STORING FRUIT 



siderably, but the following is a common construction. Be- 

 ginning on the outside we have: (1) Shingles, (2) water-proof 

 paper, (3) inch boards, (4) water-proof paper, (5) inch boards, 

 (6) 2 by 4 inch studs, (7) lath and plaster, (8) inch furring 

 strips, (9) inch tongue-and-groove sheathing. 



A diagram of this wall is shown in Figure 123. Considering 

 that it is not a very complicated wall, it is certainly a very 

 efficient one. 



Keeping Qualities of Fruits. — It remains to say a word about 

 the factors which influence the keeping quality of fruits. Like 

 most of the work in fruit growing, we need more light on many 

 points connected with the storage of fruits, yet the following 

 seem reasonably well established: 



Fia. 123. — Diagram of a cross-section of the walls of the storage house in Figure 122. 



T^e handling of fruit from the time it is on the tree until it 

 lands in the storage house has a very important influence on 

 the length of time it will keep. Fruit which is picked roughly, 

 so as to bruise it in separating it from the twig; fruit which is 

 thrown into the picking' basket or poured from that into the 

 receptacle in which it is to be stored; or fruit which is roughly 

 handled while loading or unloading in hauling the packages 

 from the orchard to the storage house, will not keep as well as 

 that which is carefully handled. The importance of this cannot 

 be over-emphasized, and every detail in the work should be care- 

 fully scrutinized to see if there is any possible chance for 

 improvement. 



The degree of maturity of the fruit at the time it is picked 

 and stored has a very decided influence on the length of time 



