12 BULLETIN 302, U. S. DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE. 



SHIPMENTS UNDER VENTILATION AND REFRIGERATION. 



Some cars of apples inspected in the markets visited showed 

 softness and decay. It was thought this was due to lack of refrig- 

 eration, poor ventilation, or poor grading of the fruit itself before 

 being packed and loaded on the cars. 



Of the three classes of fruit (boxed, barreled, and bulk) consigned 

 to the markets, the box-packed apples usually arrive in the best 

 condition. This class of fruit is usually well graded and tightly 

 packed, thus giving assurance of its carrying well. The principal 

 fault found with box-packed apples (especially the Jonathan variety) 

 during the 1914-15 season was that a large percentage of the ship- 

 ments arrived in overripe condition. At first it was thought that 

 this may have been due to shipping this variety without refrigeration 

 during the warm weather of the early fall months in order to save 

 refrigeration costs. It was learned, however, that weather conditions 

 and failure of the grower to gather the fruit at the proper time caused 

 the Jonathan's to be overripe at time of shipping. While refrigera- 

 tion may have retarded the deterioration, still it was a question if 

 the extra cost would have been justified, so in most cases such fruit 

 was rushed in ventilators to the nearest markets. Under the con- 

 ditions no power could have delivered this fruit in good condition 

 and the results secured were only to be expected. 



Coming to markets already heavily supplied with first-class fruit 

 and of necessity being destined for prompt consumption on account 

 of their condition, these apples sold for prices slightly below the 

 market for stock with keeping qualities. Dealers who ordinarily 

 would have paid fair prices feared to do so in direct competition with 

 good, firm stock. On the Kansas City market alone it was learned 

 that approximately 20 cars of boxed apples from the Northwest were 

 sacrificed on account of arriving in ripe condition. It is thought 

 that these apples sold at a discount of approximately 25 cents per 

 box, for, although they were in fair condition for immediate con- 

 sumption, they had no storage value. 



It is desirable for the growers to realize that no expenditure for 

 refrigeration or cold storage can compensate for failure to pick and 

 pack at the proper time. The refrigeration of overripe apples will 

 not restore them to a sound condition nor prevent their progressive 

 deterioration either in transit, in storage, or in the market. On the 

 whole, there was noticeable a great improvement in all barreled stock 

 arriving. The regulatory law of New York State caused the growers 

 and packers to grade more closely and to display their names on the 

 heads of the barrels. Thus poor, wormy, fungous, or scabby fruit, 

 that formerly went to market in barrels, generally was kept at home. 



