12 BULLETIN 302, U. §. DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE. 
SHIPMENTS UNDER VENTILATION AND REFRIGERATION. 
Some cars of apples inspected in the markets visited showed 
softness and decay. It was thought this was due to lack of refrig- 
eration, poor ventilation, or poor grading of the fruit itself before 
being packed and loaded on the cars. 
Of the three classes of fruit (boxed, barreled, and bulk) consigned 
to the markets, the box-packed apples usually arrive in the best 
condition. This class of fruit is usually well graded and tightly 
packed, thus giving assurance of its carrying well. The principal 
fault found with box-packed apples (especially the Jonathan variety) 
during the 1914-15 season was that a large percentage of the ship- 
ments arrived in overripe condition. At first it was thought that 
this may have been due to shipping this variety without refrigeration 
during the warm weather of the early fall months in order to save 
refrigeration costs. It was learned, however, that weather conditions 
and failure of the grower to gather the fruit at the proper time caused 
the Jonathan’s to be overripe at time of shipping. While refrigera- 
tion may have retarded the deterioration, still it was a question if 
the extra cost would have been justified, so in most cases such fruit 
was rushed in ventilators to the nearest markets. Under the con- 
ditions no power could have delivered this fruit in good condition 
and the results secured were only to be expected. 
Coming to markets already heavily supplied with first-class fruit 
and of necessity being destined for prompt consumption on account 
of their condition, these apples sold for prices slightly below the 
market for stock with keeping qualities. Dealers who ordinarily 
would have paid fair prices feared to do so in direct competition with 
good, firm stock. On the Kansas City market alone it was learned 
that approximately 20 cars of boxed apples from the Northwest were 
sacrificed on account of arriving in ripe condition. It is thought 
that these apples sold at a discount of approximately 25 cents per 
box, for, although they were in fair condition for immediate con- 
sumption, they had no storage value. 
It is desirable for the growers to realize that no expenditure for 
refrigeration or cold storage can compensate for failure to pick and 
pack at the proper time. The refrigeration of overripe apples will 
not restore them to a sound condition nor prevent their progressive 
deterioration either in transit, in storage, or in the market. On the 
whole, there was noticeable a great improvement in all barreled stock 
arriving. The regulatory law of New York State caused the growers 
and packers to grade more closely and to display their names on the 
heads of the barrels. Thus poor, wormy, fungous, or scabby fruit, 
that formerly went to market in barrels, generally was kept at home. 
