COMMERCIAL STORAGE OF FRUITS AND VEGETABLES 39 



water, but if stored loose they are kept moist by occasional sprinklings. 

 If held in wooden cases or packed in such a way as to prevent excessive 

 drying out by direct air currents, no sprinkling is necessary. Galax 

 is usually tied in bunches of 25; the ferns are tied in lots of 50, but 

 both are customarily sold by the hundred. Those who make a busi- 

 ness of gathering the greens in this group sometimes store them in 

 coldframes, covering them w T ith about 6 inches of some material such 

 as sphagnum moss or leaves, and shading or using sash as the weather 

 demands. Handled in this way, shipments can be made at any 

 time. Others who might be termed "brokers" have many employees 

 gathering galax and ferns and store their entire holdings in cold- 

 storage warehouses; this is the method commonly employed for 

 storage, and it usually gives satisfaction. 



Holly sprays or wreaths can usually be held satisfactorily for 

 approximately 1 month at a temperature of 32° F. and a relative 

 humidity of about 80 percent. 



RHIZOMES, TUBERS, AND CORMS 



Lily-of-the-valley pips or crowns may be held in cold-storage ware- 

 houses at a temperature range of 25° to 28° F. (53) for 15 to 17 

 months, although after about 12 months increasing deterioriation in 

 quality becomes noticeable. The pips are tied in bundles of 25 with 

 string or willow ties and are packed in wooden cases of various sizes 

 containing from 250 to 2,500 pips. 



Taro (Colocasia esculenta), spotted caladium (C. neoguineensis) , 

 and tuber begonias (Begonia tubehybrida) may be held at 45° F. and 

 a humidity of 75 to 80 percent for several months. They should be 

 packed in dry sawdust or peat. 



Cannas (Canna indica), dahlias (Dahlia sp.), and peonies (Paeonia, 

 sp.) may be stored at 45° to 50° F. over a period of 6 to 7 months with 

 a humidity of 70 to 80 percent. They are usually packed in dry soil 

 or sawdust. 



Gladiolus sp. (mostly hybrids) stored at 40° to 50° F. and at a 

 humidity of 70 to 75 percent will keep in good condition for the normal 

 storage period of 7 to 8 months. They should be stored dry in shallow 

 trays with ample ventilation, but only after a curing period of 3 to 

 6 weeks in an open or well-ventilated shed. 



Common and golden callas (Zantedeschia aethiopica and Z. elliot- 

 tiana) stored at 35° F. and at a humidity of 70 to 75 percent in dry 

 soil or peat will keep for many months if it is necessary to store 

 them. The normal rest period in the forcing cycle is during May, 

 June, and July. Unless water is withheld during this period com- 

 plete dormancy will not exist. Therefore, storage in a dry condition 

 is essential, with sufficient humidity to prevent undue shriveling. 



BULBS 



Most varieties of Narcissus sp., hyacinths (Hyacinthus orientalis), 

 freesias (Freesia refracta alba), tulips (Tulipa sp.), squills (Scilla 

 sp.), snowdrops (Oalanthus nivalis), Crocus sp., and similar bulbs 

 may be held in common storage for several months. However, many 

 of them are still imported in large numbers, and these are usually not 

 stored since better results are obtained by planting them as soon as 

 they arrive. 



