HANDLING AND SHIPPING FRESH CHERRIES AND PRUNES. 25 



of the decay occurring in the earlier lots during 1913 was due to 

 brown-rot, as was a large portion of that in the later lots. Table X 

 and figure 11 illustrate rather strikingly the relation of brown-rot 

 to fresh-fruit shipment. 



Table X shows the total decay in the four best series in the imme- 

 diately precooled and nonprecooled fresh prunes, as compared with 

 the percentages of total decay in the four poorest series under the 

 same methods of handling. The four series in the best lots were from 

 orchards that were practically free from brown-rot, the four poorer 

 series being from orchards where brown-rot was very prevalent. The 

 fruit from the disease-free orchards at the end of a 10-day transit 

 period showed no decay on withdrawal, 0.3 of 1 per cent at the end 



ORCHARDS ORCHARDS 



PRACTICALLY FREE BADLY AFFECTED 



FROM BROWN-ROT WITH BROWN-ROT 



^£/2 CFA/r DECAY 



ON WITHDRAWAL 



FOUR DAYS AFTER WITHDRAWAL 



| O-S TEN DAYS IN CAR 5-2 | 



(J 08 FIFTEEN D»VS IN CAR 



SEVEN DAYS AFTER WITHDRAWAL 



| O 9 TEN OAYS IN CAR 9.6 J 



111 2J FIFTEEN DAYS IN CAR 



Fig. 11. — Diagram illustrating the percentages of decay in four series of prunes from 

 orchards showing little or no brown-rot and comparable series from orchards badly 

 affected with brown-rot, Salem, Oreg., 1913. 



of 4 days, and 0.9 of 1 per cent at the end of a 7-day holding period, 

 as against 1 per cent on withdrawal, 5.2 per cent after 4 days, and 

 9.6 per cent after a 7-day holding period in fruit from disease- 

 infested orchards. It should also be kept in mind that this fruit 

 was handled from all orchards with the greatest degree of care and 

 that these differences were primarily due to the difference in brown- 

 rot in the different lots. At the end of a 15-day transit period the 

 better lots of fruit had developed only 0.1 of 1 per cent of decay 

 on withdrawal, 0.8 of 1 per cent after a 4-day holding period, and 

 2.3 per cent after a 7-day holding period on the market, this as 

 against 2.7 per cent of decay on withdrawal and 9.4 per cent and 15.8 

 per cent, respectively, for the poorer lots. The differences here are 

 so striking as to indicate most clearly the need of correct cultural 

 practices and thorough spraying in order to control the brown-rot, 

 which during most seasons is a serious factor and one of the chief 

 drawbacks to the successful shipment of prunes in a fresh condition. 



