RHIZ0PUS ROT OF STRAWBERRIES IN TRANSIT. 3 
field until fully ripe, for example, they can not be handled without 
serious bruising and are soon crushed in shipment. 
Varieties differ greatly as to firmness of berry; some can become 
fully colored before picking and still remain firm for a relatively 
long time, while others begin to soften before they are colored suffi- 
ciently for market. Still others are so delicate when mature that 
they are bruised by even the most careful commercial handling and 
are useful only for local markets. Firmness often determines the 
choice of varieties for commercial production. 
The fruit of a variety which ordinarily is a good shipper may 
under unfavorable conditions lose its firmness. An excess of nitroge- 
nous plant food in the soil is generally believed to induce the growth 
of soft, succulent berries. Excessive rainfall during the growing and 
fruiting season has a tendency to produce this effect, especially if 
accompanied by high temperature. This was noticeable during the 
shipping season of 1915, especially during May and June, in New 
Jersey and Delaware, when, within a few hours after berries were 
picked and before they were placed in cars for shipment, juice would 
frequently be running from the crates. The fall, winter, and spring 
of 191 bl6, on the other hand, were unusually dry, especially in the 
extreme 1 south, and it was remarked by growers, shippers, and retail 
merchants that berries shipped from Florida to northern markets in 
1916 reached their destination in better condition than in any pre- 
vious year. 
Severe losses sometimes result from hot weather prevailing during 
transit or while the fruit is being picked and loaded for shipment. 
Since this damage is due to the more rapid growth of fungi at the 
higher temperature it will be discussed later (p. 7). 
The shipping qualities of berries may be injured seriously by heavy 
storms. On February 24, 1916, a rather severe hailstorm occurred at 
Lakeland, Fla., and for several days its effect on the berries was 
noticeable; bruises developed into soft spots as the fruit ripened, 
though the epidermis often was not broken by the hail. In some 
fields nearly all the berries were bruised, and it was impracticable to 
prevent the packing of some injured fruit. On March 22, 1916, a very 
strong wind blew for several hours over all sections of Florida from 
which strawberries were being shipped. Sand and fine dust were 
driven by the wind with such force that for several days strawberry 
plants were coated with dust and the fruit had a dull, dirty appear- 
ance. Berries picked during the days immediately following this 
storm were extremely soft and did not ship well. Severe rainstorms 
also cause much damage to berries, both by mechanical bruising and 
by covering them with dirt, which often is difficult to remove. 
These and other unfavorable field conditions may result in the 
production of berries which even with careful handling and thorough 
