RHIZOPUS ROT OF STRAWBERRIES IN TRANSIT. 3 



field until fully ripe, for example, they can not be handled without 

 serious bruising and are soon crushed in shipment. 



Varieties differ greatly as to firmness of berry; some can become 

 fully colored before picking and still remain firm for -a relatively 

 long time, while others begin to soften before they are colored suffi- 

 ciently for market. Still others are so delicate when mature that 

 they are bruised by even the most careful commercial handling and 

 are useful only for local markets. Firmness often determines the 

 choice of varieties for commercial production. 



The fruit of a variety which ordinarily is a good shipper may 

 under unfavorable conditions lose its firmness. An excess of nitroge- 

 nous plant food in the soil is generally believed to induce the growth 

 of soft, succulent berries. Excessive rainfall during the growing and 

 fruiting season has a tendency to produce this effect, especially if 

 accompanied by high temperature. This was noticeable during the 

 shipping season of 1915, especially during May and June, in New 

 Jersey and Delaware, when, within a few hours after berries were 

 picked and before they were placed in cars for shipment, juice would 

 frequently be running from the crates. The fall, winter, and spring 

 of 1915-16, on the other hand, were unusually dry, especially in the 

 extreme south, and it was remarked by growers, shippers, and retail 

 merchants that berries shipped from Florida to northern markets in 

 1916 reached their destination in better condition than in any pre- 

 vious year. 



Severe losses sometimes result from hot weather prevailing during 

 transit or while the fruit is being picked and loaded for shipment. 

 Since this damage is due to the more rapid growth of -fungi at the 

 higher temperature it will be discussed later (p. 7). 



The shipping qualities of berries may be injured seriously by heavy 

 storms. On February 24, 1916, a rather severe hailstorm occurred at 

 Lakeland, Fla., and for several days its effect on the berries was 

 noticeable; bruises developed into soft spots as the fruit ripened, 

 though the epidermis often was not broken by the hail. In some 

 fields nearly all the berries were bruised, and it was impracticable to 

 prevent the packing of some injured fruit. On March 22, 1916, a very 

 strong wind blew for several hours over all sections of Florida from 

 which strawberries were being shipped. Sand and fine dust were 

 driven by the wind with such force that for several days strawberry 

 plants were coated with dust and the fruit had a dull, dirty appear- 

 ance. Berries picked during the days immediately following this 

 storm were extremely soft and did not ship well. Severe rainstorms 

 also cause much damage to berries, both by mechanical bruising and 

 by covering them with dirt, which often is difficult to remove. 



These and other unfavorable field conditions may result in the 

 production of berries which even with careful handling and thorough 



