Preparation for Marlcet 331 



can usually be secured as easily as an unventilated box- 

 car, and they should always be used in preference. 

 These cars are provided with two ventilators at either 

 end wall which can be opened or closed as desired. 

 These vent openings have iron rods or heavy iron cloth 

 to prevent stealing when the doors are open. Though 

 not regularly furnished with a false bottom, such a floor 

 should always be installed when shipping long distances 

 and for short shipments when the potatoes are bulked. 

 A false bottom can be constructed of rough lumber for 

 about 1 cent a bushel capacity of the car, and is very 

 cheap insurance. In installing such false floors, care 

 should be taken to have the runners placed lengthwise 

 the car with floor strips crossways, and to see that the 

 under air passage formed is not obstructed in any man- 

 ner, else the object of the false floor will be defeated (see 

 Eig. 42). 



The railroads will supply refrigerator cars for per- 

 ishable or semi-perishable shipments to the extent of 

 their ability, preferably for longer runs. These cars 

 should always be used in shipping sweet potatoes to 

 the northern markets, as the special insulation prevents 

 freezing and the top ventilators in each end provide 

 ample circluation of air as long as the car is in motion. 

 A certain percentage of these cars belonging to the 

 various roads is already equipped with false floors, or 

 floor racks. It is contemplated eventually to equip 

 all of the cars in this way. When not so equipped 

 when secured, the shipper will always find it profitable 

 to put in these floors at his own expense rather than 

 ship long distances "with the bottom ventilation that 

 would be provided. During the war period, the United 



