16 CIRCULAR 713, U. S. DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE 



the end where no wrappers were used. Inspection after the box 

 had been held at 36° for 3 weeks showed that the percentage of 

 soft lemons had increased greatly. Percentage figures for the 

 two inspections follow. 



Description and treatment: er Soft age 



Unwrapped, after thawing 55 



Wrapped, after thawing 25 



Unwrapped, after 3 weeks at 36° F 84 



Wrapped, after 3 weeks at 36° F 57 



The fruits not classed as soft were firm and usable. 



On the market, frozen lemons have a rind flavor but not the 

 strong, unpleasant, rancid flavor and odor found in watery break- 

 down. Watery break-down is found scattered throughout stacks 

 of boxes and in the center of packs as well as along the edges, 

 whereas freezing injury is likely to be localized. (See also 

 page 18.) 



Lettuce 



Lettuce in an eastern crate (2 dozen heads) was held in a 20° F. 

 room for 54 hours. The crate was papered over the sides, ends, 

 and bottom and contained package ice. After 17 hours at 60° the 

 outer leaves of the heads around the outside of the crate had a 

 water-soaked appearance. When these heads were cut, the freez- 

 ing injury was found to extend through about three layers of 

 leaves. The solid part of the heads was uninjured and not frozen. 

 No freezing injury was found in the heads next to the outside 

 layers. There was still some package ice remaining. 



Conditions similar to those just described were found in a crate 

 of lettuce held for 72 hours in a 24° F. room. 



On the market, lettuce injured by moderate freezing shows only 

 a few outer leaves glassy. The heads usually remain firm unless 

 there is opportunity for subsequent drying. 



Onions and Garlic 

 experimental observations 



Onions in an unprotected net bag of 1-bushel capacity were held 

 at 21° to 24° F. for 54 hours. The bulbs varied greatly in size and 

 many of them had sprouted. Large bulbs of the Yellow Bermuda 

 variety also were held loose in a box in the same room during the 

 same period. On removal from the freezing room all the onions 

 in the box, except a few at the center, were found frozen. Of the 

 326 onions in the bag 117 (approximately 36 percent) were not 

 frozen. Most of these were at or near the center of the mass of 

 bulbs. The frozen onions in both the bag and the box were hard 

 and had a glassy, water-soaked appearance. 



After being held for 3 days at 31° F. both lots showed the 

 symptoms described under Market Observations. 



