BULLETIN OF THE 



No. 35 



Contribution from the Bureau of Plant Industry, Wm. A. Taylor, Chief 

 December 31, 1913. 



FACTORS GOVERNING THE SUCCESSFUL STORAGE 

 OF CALIFORNIA TABLE GRAPES. 1 



By A. V. Stubenratjch, Pomologist and Horticulturist, and C. W. Mann, 

 Assistant Pomologist in Fruit-Transportation and Storage Investigations. 



INTRODUCTION. 



During the past seven years the Bureau of Plant Industry has been 

 engaged in a study of the behavior of California table grapes in 

 storage, the primary object for which the work was undertaken being 

 the determination of the possibility of extending the territory over 

 which these grapes may be distributed, as well as of lengthening their 

 marketing season. Under existing conditions of storage, transporta- 

 tion, and marketing, the major portion of the California grape crop 

 must be marketed within six weeks or two months after picking, and 

 any great increase in output during such a limited season is likely to 

 result in a glutted market and low prices. Present prospects indi- 

 cate a large increase in production during the next 5 or 10 years; 

 in fact, were the entire acreage in California now planted with table 

 grapes to come into full bearing within the next five years it is esti- 

 mated that the output would be nearly doubled. Table I shows the 

 growth of the California table-grape industry during the past 11 

 years. 



1 The investigations summarized in this paper were carried on during seven con- 

 secutive seasons, beginning in 1906. The work may be considered as an example of the 

 successful demonstration and application under actual commercial conditions of 

 principles and practices developed from careful observation and experimentation. The 

 results in so far as the preliminary experimental phases of the. work were concerned 

 were ready for publication several years ago. It was felt, however, that unless an actual 

 demonstration of the application of the principles under commercial shipping, storing, 

 and marketing conditions could be accomplished under the supervision of the Depart- 

 mental workers the industry would not accept or utilize the results in any effective way. 

 The successful packing, storing, and marketing of grapes handled in accordance with the 

 results of the work during two seasons give assurance that this system will become a 

 permanent feature of the California table-grape industry. The important commercial 

 test of 1912, comprising more than 30 carloads of fruit, was made possible by the con- 

 signments supplied by the following growers : A. H. Backer, Backer Bros. Vineyard, 

 P. M. Baier, Steve Baker, Bisen Vineyard, Gunn Vineyard, Lines & Anderson, N. M. 

 Miller, J. F. Putnam, Redbanks Orchard Co., G. C Roeding, and M. M. Shooshan. 

 Throughout the seven seasons during which the work was in progress, the successfu? 

 prosecution of the experiments was largely due to the hearty cooperation afforded by a 

 large number of growers of table grapes in California. — Wm, A, Taxlor, Chief of Bureau. 



11971°— Bull. 35—13 1 



