STORAGE OE CALIFORNIA TABLE GRAPES. 



11 



a narrow space in the center is needed for bracing. The ordinary 

 car cleats used in bracing crates may be employed to separate the 

 tiers, and these should also be placed on the floor, lengthwise of the 

 car, to allow a circulation of air under the drums (figs. 5 and 6). 

 The loading could be improved by placing strips 1^ or 2 inches thick 

 lengthwise on the floor of the car, allowing two strips for each row 

 of drums and arranging them so that the vertical spaces between 

 the drums are not closed. In some of the first shipments the drums 

 were arranged in such a manner that the spaces between the rows 

 were closed, thus preventing the circulation of air around the pack- 

 ages and largely nullifying the effects of refrigeration. If the 



Fig. 6. — Large drums in a refrigerator car. showing the method of stacking employed. 

 The three drums in front were temporarily laid down ; they are not loaded in this 

 position. 



grapes have been packed while cool or if the drums have been pre- 

 cooled to a temperature of about 40° F.,^open spacing between the 

 packages is not so important. Cooled fruit may be stacked com- 

 pactly if cleats are placed on the floor and against the sides of the 

 car to allow a free circulation of air around the fruit mass. This 

 serves to protect the drums against heat leakage through the car 

 walls or floor. 



Figure 7 shows the drums braced in the middle of the car, the 

 material used being 2 by 4 inch scantling. When this method is 



