Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1900-12-01
COLD STORAGE FOR FRUIT.

In a recent press Bulletin of the New
Hampshire College Agricultural Expert
The growing of good fruit is a worthy
problem. but another equally as impor-
tant is in being able to obtain sufiictent
returns to pay for ones labor and oner
sufficient inducement for enthusiastic FL.
tura efforts.
"In seasons like the present with its
abundant crop OF apples; what Is best 10
do with ones fruit,-sell at tho present
low market price. or arrange to hold II
for future advance? This question ar
peals 10 EVERYONE who has apples for
sale. TIE sell the fruit at picking time
necessitates little competition hence low
prices and likewise little responsibility.
I'd keep the fruit for higher prices Is
problematical in that it costs for stor-
age buildings and there is liability of loss
from shrinkage and decay. also extra ex-
pense In handling. danger from freez-
ing in transportation; etc. g., -
eryones conditions vary more or less ana
the problem Is for the individual TO set
tie That cold storage OF somes form ls
blessing is readily recoGnizcd we
nave had in recent years fruits of all
kinds out of season and Mt prices within
the reach of most people Inc economlc
problem Is not II secure Il high price for
a small quantity but an average price
for Il large quantity.
Not many years since We Depended
almost entirely upon the house cellar for
elding over gluttcd market and when
there was a slump on the market much
OF the produce rottcd in the hands OF
the producer. A certain few. however
handling. packing. ventiia,ing their Gel
Lars, etc. and they invariably reccivco
,air returns for so doing. New. methods
of storage have developed rapidly with
n 4 short time. AT present every city OF
note has its commercial cold storage
plant and producers as well as commits
ion men are offered equal opportunities
rorcd usually for abol. ,ne following
rates: 10 cts. per Dbl. per month. or for
nd season, ending May first. IS to 50 cts
| Der until the following May first. The
rate after that time is 10 cts. per Dbl. per
| month or fractional part thereof.
"The cold temperature in these. COM
| nercial houses is obtained through COM
| preston, absorption, and air machines.
and the freezing mixtures from the conf
| lination of ice and salt. The advantages
| Il storage near markets are IN being able
| fruit well cared for. This is worth con-
| sideration by all growers. Not all cold
\ storage houses are successful IN giving
good results. This may be the fault
| Of the company in not keeping regu-
| TAR temperature, etc. due TO poorly con-
/ structed buildings or unskilled labor but
| t may be due to lack of proper attention
| picking. packing, etc. before the friit
| caches the plant. one must understanG
hat cold storage will simply retard ana
| nor prevent entirely the spread OF decay.
1
| dition entering. ii is likely To come
/ out in proportionately as good condition;
| cold storage never makes an ili-shapcd
| apple uniform. an unSOund frult SOUND. q
! wormy apple perfect. or IL pale. sickly,
| immature fruit bright colored. The APP
pie cannot be expected to increase IN
| size or overcome the rough. careless
| treatment ii perchance may have re-
| ceived before going in. 1t is for the IN
| terest Of both. parties concerned to se.
| good results therefore, familiariZe your
| xvtth sacb others conditions be-
| fore venturing. The experiment station
has been experimenting along various
| lines of cold storage and hopes ultimate-
| ly to give more complete details of re-
| suits.
| within the frost belt ice is the. common
means of cold storage. especially for 90
| nestle and general trade purposes. TINS
is true of New England. where 1t Is
shown that ice can be cut and hauled 2
! mile for twenty-fi cents ton. small
I ice and cold storage building can be
highly recommended. Temporary struc.
| lures can be made very cheaply but It
is far better to build permanently, rs II
W Wnils DC viii i' make ideal houses and New
| England need not want for these.
| Another kind of storage which for
convenience we may call climate cold st2-
climate to do ones bidding. There are
few days from rom now on 9n, ia ,sts y
+! but that the temperature falls at some
| dine sufficiently to utilize 1t foI cold stor-
| age. Being prepared to retain this tenn
| Herature In cellars or buildings con
structed for the purpose. until q similar
or lower Temperature is realized. is the
| key to success. This system is not Of
| fered to take the place ~ the other svs-
| TENS mentioned but to meet an appar-
| emit need Iii our rural districts. Inc Or
| binary house cellar or portion of a barn
cellar will answer for the storage room.
| II the simple principles of construction
for the retention of cold air as we'll as a
! proper system of ventilation, are c0nsid-
| cred.
.sWith few exceptions the city cold stor-
large quantities of fruit for the open
| market: but where fruit is grown for
home use or the local market. home cold
storage is advisable: That cold storage.