B. P. I.— 66. Pom. I.— 19. 



THE APPLE IN COLD STORAGE. 



INTRODUCTION. 



The application of cold temperatures to the preservation of fruits 

 has profoundly influenced the development of American fruit grow- 

 ing. When orchard products had to be transported to market in com- 

 mon freight cars and express cars or by boats running on slow sched- 

 ules, and the surplus fruit was stored in cellars, pits, and fruit houses 

 without artificial cooling, it was necessary to dispose of the crop 

 quickly in local markets to prevent unusual losses from decay. Ever 

 under the most favorable conditions, the markets were often over- 

 supplied in the fall months, with an accompan3 7 ing demoralized condi- 

 tion in the fruit trade, especially when the weather was hot, while the 

 supply of fruit was exhausted early in the winter and the markets 

 were barren during the remaining season. 



The development of the fruit-refrigerator-car service and other 

 improved methods of transportation have made fruit growing possible 

 in remote parts of the country and have facilitated the wide distribu- 

 tion of the most perishable products. Mechanical refrigeration on 

 shipboard and the introduction of other special facilities for fruit 

 transportation are extending the markets for fresh fruit abroad. The 

 growth of the cold-storage warehousing business is making the season 

 of fresh fruits and vegetables perennial. It is distributing them more 

 unifornity throughout the season and is thereby contributing to their 

 freer use, to more steady markets and uniform prices, and to a more 

 stable fruit business. 



INFLUENCE OF COLD STORAGE ON THE APPLE INDUSTRY. 



Cold storage is having an important influence in developing the 

 apple industry as a stable business. Instead of an incidental feature 

 of the general farm, the apple is now the principal crop in large 

 sections of the country, and its production and the handling and 

 marketing of the crop are becoming highly specialized forms of 

 agriculture and of trade. 



Formerly the marketing of the crop was largely controlled by the 

 apple grower, but now the growing of the crop and its sale are rapidly 



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