BULLETIN 
U. S. DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE. 
in all cases were similar to those given in Table I. The significant 
fact is that the only perceptible difference between the boxes was in 
their temperature after loading on the cars. Boxes of berries as 
nearly alike as possible were chosen for the experiment. The berries 
were of the same variety, grown in the same locality, picked at the 
same time, and inoculated in the same way with the spores and 
mycelium of Rhizopus nigricans which came from a single original 
culture. 
WASHING STRAWBERRIES. 
Washing strawberries before packing for shipment is regularly 
practiced by a few growers in Florida and is resorted to by a large 
number when the berries are very sandy. Experiments conducted in 
Florida by the writers during 1916 (12, pp. 15-19) showed that the 
practice is not necessarily harmful provided the fruit is packed wet, 1 
handled with care, and placed under refrigeration within a reasonable 
time. They indicated, indeed, that the keeping quality of the fruit 
might even be improved by this treatment. To allow the washed 
fruit to dry before packing, on the other hand, had a decidedly 
injurious effect. 
In order to verify these results, the writers experimented by washing 
strawberries in Louisiana and Missouri during 1917. Various 
methods of washing were first tested. Experiments were conducted 
in which a part of the berries were packed in boxes and then washed 
either by dipping the entire box in clean cold water or by running the 
water over and through the box, while an equal quantity of the 
berries was poured into the water, dipped out immediately, and then 
packed in boxes. Klondike berries picked at Hammond, La., were 
used and after treatment were placed in crates while wet and examined 
after 48 hours. Table II summarizes the results of these tests. 
Table II. — A comparison of the keeping quality of strawberries ivashed before packing 
with strawberries washed after packing at Hammond, La., in 1917. 
Washed after packing. 
Washed before packing 
Treatment. 
Number of 
berries. 
Sound on 
examina- 
tion. 
Number of 
berries. 
Sound on 
examina- 
tion. 
Held without refrigeration 
183 
820 
Per cent. 
28 
56 
143 
78fi 
Per cent. 
13 
45 
i 
Total 
1,003 
51 92fy 
40 
Without exception, the results were in favor of packing the fruit 
before rather than after washing. In subsequent washing experi- 
ments, therefore, this method was followed. 
1 Still better results are obtained by packing dry and then washing. 
