TOMATOES — COLD STORAGE 



149 



most difficult to carry through; while the Trinidad potato keeps as 

 readily as Irish potatoes, only requiring to be kept free from frost and 

 light by a slight covering of straw, if the tubers are placed in a house. 

 Next in keeping quality come Hayti yam, Red-skinned, Brimstone, 

 Nigger Killer; and last of the potato section is the Nansemond. 



Tomato. 



Pick the firmest fruits just as they are beginning to turn, leaving the 

 stems on, exercising care not to bruise them, and pack in a barrel or 

 box in clean and thoroughly dry sand, placing the fruits so that they 

 will not touch each other. Place the barrel in a dry place. 



In the autumn when frosts appear, tomatoes, if carefully picked and 

 laid on straw under the glass of cold frames, will continue to ripen until 

 near Christmas. Green but full-grown tomatoes may be gradually 

 ripened by placing them in cupboards or bureau drawers. 



The ripening of tomatoes may be hastened ten days by bagging them 

 as grapes are bagged. 



Cold Storage 



Storing under refrigeration is mostly a business by itself, and is 

 therefore out of reach of a general book of rules. However, a few 

 figures drawn from experience may be useful to the farmer : — 



Temperature for fruits and vegetables in cold storage (Rochester Cold 

 Storage Co.). P. 345 



Temperature 



30-33° 



36° 



35° 



32° with care 



36° 



33° 



30-32° 



30° 



30° 



35° 



30° 



36° 



Goods 



Lemons . . . 

 Maple Syrup 

 Nuts .... 

 Oranges . . . 

 Pears .... 

 Peaches or plums 

 Prunes .... 

 Quinces . . . 

 Raisins .... 

 Vegetables . . 

 Wine .... 

 Watermelons 



Temperature 



36° 



35° 



35° 



36° 



32° with care 



35° 



35° 



30° 



35° 



35° 



40° 



35° 



1 Apples are often carried as low as 30°, in a dry-air circulating room ; the heavier- 

 skinned apples may be carried as low as 29°. With pears and celery, which contain mucn 

 water, care should be taken that they do not go below freezing. 



