PREFACE. 



The protection of fresh fruits, through the agency of low tempera- 

 tures in cold storage houses, against their normal deterioration and 

 decay has become in recent years one of the most important factors 

 affecting the prosperity of the commercial orchardists of the United 

 States. Practical experience has demonstrated the necessity for more 

 complete and accurate knowledge regarding the possibilities of pre- 

 serving fruit in wholesome condition in this way and the underlying 

 principles that govern the behavior of fruits thus stored, as well as 

 the effect of different cultural and climatic conditions upon the behavior 

 of stored fruit. 



The investigation of different phases of this subject was begun in 

 the summer of 1901 and is still in progress. While the completion of 

 these important investigations, which involve repeated experiments 

 with different varieties of fruit grown under the varying climatic con- 

 ditions of different parts of the countiy and stored in different ware- 

 houses, will of necessit}^ extend over a considerable period of time, 

 the important economic results thus far attained make -the publication 

 of this preliminary report upon the subject advisable at this time. 

 In this report certain general principles are stated for the benelit of 

 fruit growers, dealers, and storage men, and such specific application 

 is made of these principles to the peach and pear in storage as experi- 

 ence thus far has proved desirable. Other phases of the work are in 

 progress and will be discussed in future publications. 



This bulletin has been prepared by Mr. G. Harold Powell, Assistant 

 Pomologist in Charge of Field Investigations, and Mr. S. H. Fulton, 

 Assistant in Pomology, as the result of investigations made by them 

 under the direction of Mr. William A. Taylor, Pomologist in Charge 

 of Field Investigations. The work, in so far as these fruits are con- 

 cerned, has been closely associated with the experimental export ship- 

 ments of fruits, which will be reported upon in a future bulletin. 



G. B. Brackett, 



Pomologist. 

 Office of Pomological Investigations, 



Washington, D. 0., March 19, 1903. 



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