Payette enterprise. (Payette, Canyon Co., Idaho) 1909-1935, 1913-08-14
Interesting Talk
On Refrigeration
Fruit Growers Listen to Government
Expert Monday Afternoon - Many
Interesting Facts Regarding Proper
Handling and Refrigeration of
Fruits Discussed.

Fully fifty to sixty growers gath
cred in the Commercial Club rooms
Monday afternoon to listen to b. b
Pratt government expert in charge o
fruit refrigeration experiments being
conducted in the northwest Weiser
Payette, Fruitland and New Plymouth
were all represented by interested
growers.
NJ. ]. Highley, General Manager oi
the Idaho Oregon Fruit Growers AS
sociation who had arranged for the
meeting here introduced Mr.. Pratt
explaining the nature of the work anc
the benefits that would accrue to
the grower from this experimental
work.
In beginning his talk Mr.. Pratt stat
ed that as yet the experiments had
not reached stage where absolute
records had been established as tend
ing to prove for fact anything ex-
cepting that fruit properly handled
and properly stored under an even
temperature would last muhh longer
and retain full market value.
I'VE have in the past" said Mr..
Pratt paid great deal of attention
TO the production of fruit, but little
or none as to proper methods of stor-
ing that fruit and making its natural
life as long as possible. We have
found during the short time we have
been. conducting these experiments
that a great deal of the keeping quail
tiles of fruit depend upon its hand
ling from the time it is picked and
packed until stored.
"a few years ago California and
Flor'do orange growers were having
serious time getting their product
to market and in fact were suffering
severe losses. The government by
placing men in the field to study the
situation soon discovered that large
part of the trouble was due to infer
ior methods of handling and the or
ange growers by adopting better meth
DDS were able to save themselves an
nually large sum and are now plac-
ing their fruits on the market at a
minimum of loss.
The types of trouble that cause
loss in fruit are decay and blemish. |
An apple is a live organism the
length of its life being determined |
wholly by conditions and the manner
in which it is handled, We have
conducted a series of experiments
with apples which have shown US
many truths regarding storage.
''For instance In one series of cx-
periments we took Yellow Newtowrs
properly picked and handled and
promptly placed them In cold storage
at a degree of thirty two. Another
lot were delayed ten 70 fourteen days
and then placed at thirty two degrees
and still another lot was promptly
placed in storage at thirty five de-
grees. Examination of these differ
ent lots from time to time proved
COuCluSlNGlg ILdI lllC lOl PiNnSu ohN
promptly placed in storage at thirty
two degrees held its shape and mar
ket value much better and for
much longer period when taken out
,jhan did the other two lots. This
seems to prove that thirty two de-
grees Is about the proper temperature
for apples.
With charts and pictures of apples
Mr.. Pratt thoroughly explained the
work and we regret that We are un-
able to give the different per cent
ages and figures. Sufficient informa-
ton was given however to prove that
when fruit goes down In cold storage
early in the season 1t Is due wholly /
to lack of proper handling when pick
ing and packing.
Another experiment carried out al
so proved that as yet no air storage
had been built that would preserve
fruit anywhere near as well as would
cold storage While at certain sea-
sons of the year air storage may an
swer the purpose very well tempor-
arily yet when It is desired to save
apples and preserve their market VAL
ue late In the spring the air storage
will not answer the purpose as the
temperature varies too much.
Yellow Stone Park Excursion