40 COLD STORAGE OF FRUIT. 

The raked plots have also improved, and are less mossy than 
the surrounding land. On the other hand, lifting the turf 
has been a failure, and the plots so treated have become 
practically a continuous cushion of moss. 
It is held that the experiments show that the prevalence of 
moss on light loamy lands resting on chalk is associated 
with the open texture of the soil, in which the worms work 
very freely and conti:ually lift the surface, and that constant 
rolling and harrowing, with the treading of sheep, are the 
only ways of keeping the moss down. 

COLD STORAGE OF FRUIT. 
The experiments conducted by the Kent County Council 
in 1898 on the cold storage of fruit have been reported in 
a previous number of this Journal*, and the Board have now 
received a copy of the further report on the experiments 
carried out during the past year. It was considered desirable ~ 
to experiment with larger quantities in order to ascertain with 
exactitude to what extent cold storage could be made of real 
commercial value, but difficulty was experienced in obtaining 
supplies sufficiently large for the experiment. Itis one thing 
for a grower to send for trial a small quantity of fruit which 
he does not miss, but quite another to send a larger bulk 
which represents a real monetary value; many fruit-growers 
were willing to send a basket or two, but were inclined to 
hold aloof when it came to a question of 20 or 30. In this 
connection it is observed that in no quarter has so little 
interest been evinced in the cold storage experiments as in 
the home districts. Colonists, shipping agents, and repre- 
sentatives of foreign governments have been interested, and 
nine-tenths of the inquiries which have been received have 
come from what may be termed outside sources. 
The consignments which were received in 1899 consisted 
of black currants and plums. With regard to the former, the 
fruit kept fresh for some time, and demonstrated on a large 

* Jotimal, Vol. VI., June, 1899, p. 85. 
