ORANGE AND LEMON EOT. 251 



the trmt, and as soon as the temperature is allowed to rise to 

 the point where the, fungus can grow, the conditions are 

 extremely favorable for its rapid germination. The presence 

 of water upon the fruit is always essential for the entrance of 

 the fungus; and if fruit taken from refrigeration is immediately 

 thoroughly dried by arranging for sufficient ventilation, there 

 would be no greater susceptibility on account of the cooling. 



The use of ventilated cars, or the ventilation of the curing- 

 house, is chiefly calculated to prevent the rot by carrying off 

 the moisture that may accumulate on the fruit in the sweating 

 process, or on account of the rapid lowering of the temperature. 

 The cooling that is accomplished by the evaporation of this 

 moisture is sometimes thought to act like refrigeration, and 

 may, it is true, slightly decrease the rate of growth of the fungus 

 after it germinates, but can not produce a temperature low 

 enough to prevent its germination and growth. Certainly, the 

 important matter in ventilation is the rapid removal of any 

 condensed moisture that may gather on the fruit. If this 

 moisture is removed promptly enough, so as not to give time 

 for the germination of this mold fungus, the fruit will not 

 decay, Ijut will stay sound until it would ultimately dry up 

 and mummify. 



Wrapping in tissue paper is an extremely efficient means of 

 decreasing danger from rotting. The reason for this is that 

 the paper absorbs water very freely and will take up a very 

 considerable quantity. The paper will have to become very 

 wet before it will give up enough to the spores of the fungus to 

 permit them to germinate, and so it regulates the matter to a 

 large extent; because when the temperature falls the paper 

 merely becomes moist, and when the temperature rises this 

 moisture is evaporated, and if there is fair ventilation it will 

 be carried off and the fruit never become really wet. If the 

 fruit sweats too much, however, owing to poor ventilation or 

 rapid lowering of temperature, the paper will not be sufficient 

 to prevent the accumulation of the water on the fruit and the 

 germination of any spores that may be there. Only within 

 certain limits, therefore, is the wrapping of fruit a preventive 

 of infection by the fungus. 



It is a common practice to throw decayed fruit in a pile in 

 the immediate vicinity of the packing- or curing-house; and 

 here it continues to decay and produce countless millions of 



