EEFEIGEBATION OF DEESSED POULTRY IN TRANSIT. 
27 
TEMPERATURE OF PACKAGES IN CAR. 
During the late winter and spring of 1912 an investigation was 
made of the variations in the temperature of the poultry in different 
parts of the barrel and box packages, of the inequalities hi tempera- 
ture in different parts of the car, and of the fluctuations of car tem- 
perature as affected by outside atmospheric changes. J. F. Fernald, 
mechanical assistant, Bureau of Plant Industry, made several trips, 
accompanying carloads of dressed poultry from Tennessee to the New 
York and Phila- 
W 
delphia markets. 
The necessary 
thermometer 
readings were 
made at intervals of three or four 
hours during the day. at times when 
the train happened to be at rest. 
For these tests a thermograph in 
a wooden box of three-fourths inch 
material was suspended from the 
bottom of the car (see PL I, fig. l\to 
obtain a continuous record of the'tem- 
perature of the outside ah. Inside 
the car five thermographs, in similar 
wooden boxes, were used — one at 
the top and one at the bottom of the 
load next to the bunker, two others 
in a similar arrangement at the cen- 
ter of the car midway between the 
doors, and 
■the fifth 
next to the 
side wall 
of the car. 
Fig. 12. — Simple box bunker. 
These thermograph records were supplemented with the readings 
of eight electric thermometers, located at similar positions in the car 
(see PI. I, fig. 2). The conduit wires from the thermometers con- 
verged in a small holder or box which was suspended just beneath the 
lid of the ice hatch at a point which would be easily accessible from 
the top of the car. From this position the thermometers were read 
by means of an electric apparatus carried by the messenger in charge. 
This operation was performed without opening the car doors, and was 
thus protected against the admission of warm ah and artificial air 
currents. These electric thermometers are about 10 inches long and 
