Rogue River courier. (Grants Pass, Or.) 1886-1927, 1910-06-24
GREAT RESULTS BY
PRECOOLING FRUIT

c. z. Whistler, manager OF the Bear
Creek orchards, who sent George II.
Powell, the governments preceding
expert, "a boxes Of pears last sea-
son for experimental purposes, says
the Mail Tribune, has received the
following report on them, which
shows the quality of the Rogue River
fruit:
United States Department Of Agri-
culture, Bureau of Plant Industry,
Washington, d. c., June IA, 1910
Mr.. c. +. Whistler, manager Bear
Creek orchards, Medford, Ore.-Dear
Sir: You are correct in supposing
that the pears sent us for storage ex-
periments "have passed to the great
beyond" but it was only the 25th
of May that we turned off the last
ones.
4 report on them should have been
made Immediately after that date.
but 1t has been overlooked in our
rush Of work. We thank you for
calling our attention to this matter.
In order to give you in the most
concise form the fullest report pos
sible on this fruit, I am sending you
copies OF our notes made on the
same. The fruit was stored with the
Merchants Refrigerating Company of
Jersey City, N. j., at a temperature
specified, inspections were made at
OF 32 degrees, and unless otherwise
the storage house. At the time of
several OF the later inspections 1t was
impracticable to inspect the fruit at
Jersey City, and some Of the boxes
were withdrawn and forwarded here.
AS might be expected Of the three
lots Of Bartletts, the one stored at
the earliest date, August 81, held for
longer period that the others. In
fact, the third lot stored on Septem-
Der II was in practically the same
condition October as the lot stored
August 81.
The final inspection of Buerre
d'Antou was made February (. when
the fruit was in prime condition for
immediate consumption. This inspec-
ton was made here and the fruit
was held In a warm office for five
days longer, when It was still in
nrime condition and Of fine quality
Some of the spots which had been
bruised In express shiDment had be,
gun to soften somewhat. At this
time the fruit was distributed about
some of the bureau offices and was
greatly appreciated by all.
The last two boxes OF Bose were
forwarded to this office April s when
the fruit was still in fair condition.
the flesh being quite firm, only slight
shriveling being noticeable. One
box was Immediately sent to Center
Market cold storage and was held
there at temperature Of 80 degrees
until May 25. The only change no.
ticeable after this later period Of
storage was slight increase in de-
cay and the appearance of scald on
few of the fruits The quality of the
fruit was only fair at this time. The
other box which was forwarded here
April was held in a warm office
eight days, when the fruit was past
Its commercial season, soft spots
having appeared, and practically all
OF the fruit on the outside LAYERS of
the box being shriveled. particularly
around the stems The inspection OF
box Of Clairgeau forwarded here
from Jersey City February showed
the fruit TO he still firm and green
and not at the limit Of It's commercial
holding Owing to the press of other
business, We were unable 10 make
another inspection OF this fruit until
April ., when It was in rather poor
market condition \ great share of
1t was still hard aud green. but con.
siderable decay was showing. some
mold was on the stems and slight
shriveling Of the skin made an nm
attractive appearance
At the inspection of February :
the boxes Of Comice were In about
the same condition as the Clairgeau.
except that they were higher colorod
ana more nearly ripe No further IN.
spection Of this fruit was made nntil
April %. when fruit from box for.
warded here from Jersey CITY showed
mp only fair in quality, but otherwise
was In good condition. no shriyelipr
or scald being present and only very
slight decay being found in n fov
bruised spots After being held a
week IN a warm office It was hadl,
spotted and decaycd, considerabl,
..h I 4.