STORAGE 351 



Precooling in cars. The precooling of fruit in cars is carried 

 out in the following manner : As soon as the cars are loaded, or 

 at least as soon as possible after loading, they are brought to the 

 refrigerating plant and connected with the system by flexible ducts, 

 which provide for the passing of a current of cold air through the 

 car. The duct which carries the inlet (or cold blast) is attached 

 to a false door which exactly fits the open door of the car. The 

 outlets (or suction ducts) are fitted in the same manner into one 

 of the hatches of the ice bunker at each end of the car. Fans are 

 used on both the inlet and the returns to promote a rapid circula- 

 tion of the cold air. Canvas baffles are temporarily hung in the 

 car to deflect the air current so as to force it between the packages 

 of fruit instead of merely passing over the surface. 



The number of cars which may be cooled simultaneously is 

 limited only by the capacity of the refrigerating plant and the 

 number of connections. The refrigeration required per car is equal 

 to about 12 tons for twenty-four hours; that is, if five cars are 

 to be cooled at once and within a reasonable time, it would require 

 a refrigerator plant of a capacity of 60 tons of refrigeration for 

 each twenty-four hours. 



With sufficient refrigerating power, cars should be well cooled 

 in four or five hours, including the time required for connecting 

 and disconnecting the air ducts and filling the bunkers with ice 

 after cooling is finished. 



Precooling in cars saves handling, and the fruit is not exposed 

 to changes of temperature as when being transferred from ware- 

 house to cars. When there is plenty of refrigerating power a low 

 temperature can be employed to extract the heat rapidly from the 

 fruit. It is quite safe to employ temperatures below the freezing 

 point while the heat is still in the fruit. A precooled car will carry 

 much farther without being re-iced than one started with warm 

 contents. 



Cooperation in storage. No part of apple-growing better illus- 

 trates the need of cooperation than the establishment of storage 

 facilities at the point of production. Only the large growers are 

 able to have individual storage plants, but by cooperative methods 

 one or more storehouses can be built that will accommodate the 

 fruit of all the members at a reasonable cost. Such a storehouse 



