ELEJ'EXTH AXXL'AL MEETING. n? 



Cold Storage: Preparing and Storing the Fruit. 



By Williaiit H. Hart of Poughkeepsie, A\ Y. 



I would stand before you with great diffidence if I supposed 

 you looked upon me as an authority. Like nearly all of you, I 

 am a fruit grower and learner in the matter of cold storage, an 

 art which is yet in its infancy, and in which much is yet to be 

 learned. I hope you may glean some useful facts from what I 

 say, and if I make any misstatements you will not hesitate to 

 discuss and correct them. 



Many think that any food product placed in cold storage may 

 be kept without change for months or years. This is not usually 

 the case. Cold storage retards the process of ripening or decay, 

 which would proceed more rapidly under average conditions of 

 temperature. The time during which fruit of any kind may be 

 kept with profit depends entirely upon the variety of fruit stored, 

 and its condition when placed in storage. Let us consider, there- 

 fore, the preparation of the fruit for cold storage. 



We must consider first, the variety of fruit ; second, the soil, 

 exposure and climate where grown, and the character of the 

 particular season ; third, culture, fertilizing, spraying and prun- 

 ing; fourth, time and manner of gathering and conveyance to 

 storage. 



First. Li general terms some fruits are peculiarly adapted to 

 cold storage while others do not really yield a profit by this pro- 

 cess. The apple is suitable above all other fruits for prolonged 

 keeping in cold storage. The pear and the grape are each kept 

 in large quantities commercially and for a considerable time. 

 The peach is to some extent held for a shorter time, but with 

 doubtful results, unless selected and handled with judgment; 

 while the whole list of summer fruit, plums, cherries and small 

 fruits, need scrupulous care as to conditions of storage but may 

 not usually be carried in any large way over to a higher market. 

 Lemons and other tropical fruits may also be held with varying 

 results. 



I will HQw speak especially of the apple. In setting an apple 

 orchard, if we wish to grow winter varieties suited to prolonged 

 keeping in cold storage, we should select a very short list, choos- 

 ing the kinds which keep well, and which are likely to be stored 



