HEARINGS BEFORE COMMITTEE ON AGRICULTURE. 148 
Mr. Taytor. No, sir. The receivers at the other end and the steam- 
ship people still differ from 4° to 6° in their ideas of the proper tem- 
perature in contrast with our ideas. 
The Cuarrman. What have the steamship companies to do with it? 
Mr. Taytor. They control the temperature. 
a oe abi Will they not control it according to the idea of the 
shippers? 
Mr. Taytor. No; not’ unless they take full compartments. The 
smallest compartment, with the exception of four, are five-carload 
compartments, and there are few individual shippers who can make 
five-carload compartment shipments at a time of this perishable fruit. 
So the question of temperature is one we must study, both on the 
ocean and at the other end. There arecertain conditions in which ship- 
ments have reached there that they attribute to too low temperature. 
Our tests on land, using fruit out of the same orchards, at the same 
time satisfy us that that condition of the fruit referred to is not due 
to the lower temperature. 
Mr. Scorr. You insist on a lower temperature by 4° to 6° that the 
steamship companies think is necessary 4 
Mr. Taytor. We want a temperature of from 4° to 6° lower than 
they think is necessary, yes, or the receivers on the other side believe 
is right; and we are satisfied we are right, but the question remains to 
be demonstrated in a way that will satisfy them, and it is of very great 
importance in its effect on export trade of the future. The same 
question arises in the question of exports of peaches. 
Mr. Henry. Have there been any exports of peaches this season? 
Mr. Taytor. Only in an experimental way. The crop of peaches 
was so short in the eastern States this year and the season in Georgia 
was so short at the ripening time and so rainy that we attempted but 
one experimental shipment of eastern-grown peaches this year. That 
landed on the other side in fair condition, although it was believed by 
the receivers to be injured by too low a temperature on shipboard. 
We do not believe the temperature was too low a temperature at all; 
we believe it was simply the fact of the wet season at the ripening time 
and prior to the ripening time that caused that deterioration of the fruit 
which they ascribe to the low temperature. 
Mr. Henry. What temperature do you advise? 
Mr. Taytor. We advise on shipboard 33°, knowing that a tempera- 
ture of 32° will not harm the fruit; we allow 1° for leeway. 
Mr. Henry. That was your statement last year, if I recollect 
correctly. 
Mr. Taytor. Yes. And on the contrary a shipment that was made 
in connection with us, but without expense to the Department, from 
Oklahoma to Liverpool by a man who desires to find outlet for the 
future output of his region, was landed in Liverpool in fine condition 
and sold at prices very satisfactory. I have his letter here to the effect 
that he will next year go to Great Britain early in the season and make 
personal arrangements for the handling of fruit there on his own 
account. And I will say further, too, in connection with the commer- 
cial effect that the work is having, that a London house reserved space 
in a New York steamer for a five-carload shipment of peaches from 
Georgia early in July, and held it up to the last moment, hoping that 
the rainy weather would cease, so that they could get that fruit. The 
season was exceptionally unfavorable. 
