FUETHER STUDIES OF THE ROTS OF STRAWBERRY FRUITS. 7 



TEMPERATURE AT TIME OF PICKING IN RELATION TO DECAY. 



Another striking illustration of the importance of temperature m 

 controlling Rhizopus rot is found in the relation of the rate of decay 

 to the temperature at the time of picking. In studies which are to 

 be reported in detail elsewhere, the writiers have determined that on 

 clear days the temperature of many small fruits, including straw- 

 berries, is much higher near midday than in the early morning or late 

 afternoon. Experiments have shown further that the decay of 

 strawberries picked near noon is more rapid than that of similar 

 berries picked early in the morning. For example, strawberries of 

 the Klondike variety were picked at Hammond, La., at various 

 times and held in the packing shed until about 4.30 p. m., when they 

 were shipped to Chicago under refrigeration in the regular express 

 service, which gives second-morning delivery. They were examined 

 and sorted on the day following their arrival. (Series A, Table VI.) 

 Wider differences in keeping quality were obtained with another 

 series picked and shipped under similar conditions. (Series B, 

 Table VI.) 



Table VI. — Kee/ping quality of straivberries in relation to temperature at time of picking, 

 as shown by three series of tests of fruit grown at Hammond, La. 



Time of picking. 



Temperature wlien 



Number of 



picked. 



berries. 



° C. 



" F. 





24.5 



76 



140 



28.5 



83 



142 



31.0 



88 



204 



32.0 



90 



90 



30.5 



87 



133 



26.0 



79 



180 



15.0 



59 



165 



23.5 



74 



103 



29.5 



85 



273 



31.0 



88 



109 



35.0 



95 



153 



32.5 



91 



115 



31.0 



88 



162 



35.0 



95 



248 



32.5 



91 



222 



30.0 



86 



270 



21.0 



70 



387 



Sound on 

 examina- 

 tion. 



Series A: 



8 a. m 



9.15 a. m 



10 a. m , 



12m 



2 p. m 



4 p. m. (cloudy) 



Series B: 



6 a. m 



8 a. m 



10 a. m 



12 m. (drifting clouds) 



2p. m 



4p. m 



Series C: 



12m 



2 p. m 



4 p. m 



5 p. m 



6.45 p. m 



Per cent. 



In order to ship the berries to Chicago under refrigeration, it was 

 necessary to discontinue each test at 4 p. m. (series A and B, Table VI). 

 A third series of tests was accordingly made on the same day as that 

 of series B, in which the berries were held at air temperature at 

 Hammond, La., for two days, with the results shown. (Series C, 

 Table VI.) 



The results of the tests designated as series C, which parallels that 

 recorded under Series B, Table VI (from 12 m. until 4 p. m.), indicate 

 that berries picked late in the afternoon, after their temperature had 



