Cauliflower. = Losses during shipment, marketing, and in the 
home amount to about 11.7 percent. These losses are caused mostly 
by bacterial soft rot, watery soft rot, and alternaria rot of the 
curd. Bacterial soft rot may affect both the leaves and the curd. 
Cauliflower in about 15 percent of the shipments is affected, and 
the decay may amount to as much as 54 percent. Losses may be re- 
duced by packing only good-quality cauliflower and by adequate 
refrigeration. 
Celery. - About 18.6 percent of the celery is damaged during ship- 
ment, marketing, and in the hone. Most of the loss is caused by 
watery soft rot, bacterial soft rot, and blackheart (physiological). 
These diseases rapidly destroy the celery bunches and make them un- 
fit for food. About 60 percent of the shipments contain from a 
trace to 99 percent of decay. Losses may be reduced by packing 
only good-quality celery, by hydrocooling before shipment, and by 
adequate refrigeration. 
Cucumbers. - About 2 percent of the cucumbers are damaged during 
shipment by bacterial soft rot, cottony leak, and watery soft rot. 
The cucumbers in over half of the cars are affected, and the decay 
per car ranges from a trace to about 2) percent. Losses may be 
reduced by packing only good-quality cucumbers and by refrigeration. 
Eggplant. - Fruit rot causes about 5 percent loss in the market 
and in the home. Moderate refrigeration (about 45° to 50° F.) will 
retard development of this disease. 
Escarole. - Decay, due mostly to bacterial and watery soft rot, 
causes about 8.l; percent loss in shipments of escarole. It occurs 
in more than half the cars shipped and ranges from a trace to Sh 
percent. Adequate refrigeration will reduce these losses. 
Lettuce. - Tipburn (physiological) and bacterial soft rot cause 
a loss of about 2.5 percent during shipment, in the market, and 
in the home. About two-thirds of the shipments are affected, and 
the decay per car ranges from a trace to 99 percent. Sometimes 
the affected lettuce can be salvaged by trimming away the outer 
‘leaves, but tipburn usually occurs throughout the head, so that 
the affected lettuce is a complete loss. Losses may be reduced 
by not shipping lettuce from fields in which tipburn is causing 
serious damage, by careful trimming and packing, and by adequate 
refrigeration. 
Muskmelons. = Decay causes a loss of 13.2 percent during shipment, 
marketing, and in the home. Decay is found in about half the ship- 
ments. Losses may be reduced by packing only good-quality canta- 
loups, by refrigeration, and by prompt marketing and utilization. 
Melons, Honeydew and Honeyball. = Decay causes a loss of 2.2 to 
4.3 percent during shipment, and is found in about O percent of | 
the shipments. Losses may be reduced by packing only good-quality 
- 110 - 
