THE CANADIAN HORTICULTURIST. 



Fig. 1704. —Sorting and Packing Ribstons as they come from the orchard. 



The length of time fruit and vege- 

 tables will keep differs in different 

 sections and the degree of cold may 

 vary. Some varieties of California fruit 

 will keep in cold storage longer than the 

 same varieties grown in the East. Fruit 

 grown at low altitudes and near the 

 coast keeps longer than fruit grown in 

 the interior. Ice temperatures of the 

 same degree will not do in preserving 

 fruit ; in practical cold storage other 

 conditions must be reckoned with, viz., 

 humidity, circulation of air and the 

 quantity of nitrogen present, and of the 

 latter the less the better. 



Fruit should be in as small a package 

 as possible. Each piece should be 

 wrapped. Winter varieties keep longer 

 in cold storage than summer varieties. 



Where practicable let apples remain in 

 the packing houses a few days before 

 packing for cold storage and imme- 

 diately before that operation go over the 

 fruit and cull out all unsound fruit. 

 After the " sure decays " have been re- 

 moved, wrap and pack the balance. 



Cold storage does not and cannot 

 improve the condition of fruits or other 

 products. At best it can only hold 

 them at approximately the condition 

 they were in when put in the cold 

 rooms. It cannot save from decay fruit 

 which is imperfect or unsound. A few 

 decaying spscimens are liable to ruin 

 the whole package. Sound fruit only 

 will keep in cold storage. — California 

 Fruit Grower. 



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