SUMMARY 



OWING to a serious car shortage, amounting to over 5,000 

 refrigerator cars prior to December 15, it was neces- 

 sary during 1917 to load much heavier than during any 

 previous season and to ship a considerable portion of the 

 Northwestern apple crop in box cars. 



Temperatures are maintained about 5 lower in carloads 

 of apples under refrigeration having five layers of boxes 

 than in cars having six layers. The higher temperature 

 shortens the storage and market life of the fruit. 



The temperatures of heavy and light loads are nearly the 

 same when shipped under ventilation. When emergency 

 demands heavy loading it should be done during the season 

 of ventilated shipments. 



Closing refrigerator car ventilators during the day, or 

 when outside temperatures are high, gives lower and more 

 uniform temperatures than standard ventilation. 



More than a third of the box car shipments in 1917 were 

 consigned to markets in Eastern States. Box cars should 

 not be loaded with fruit subject to long-distance shipment. 



Careless loading of Western apples during the season of 

 1917 caused an average breakage of 50 boxes per car in 

 shipments to New York City. More secure car stripping 

 and better bracing are required. 



The severity of 1917 shipping troubles was intensified by 

 disregarding indicated conditions. Car supply information 

 and tonnage estimates should be coordinated by the shippers 

 in advance of the shipping season for the best regulation of 

 loading and shipping. 



