Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1915-01-12
Cold Storage for Apples.

Knowing something of the conditions
at the State Fruit Farm, Monmouth, the
large crop Of apples there and total lack
of storage facilities, the conviction 10
forced that cold storage plant is an ab-
solute necessity. Whether that shall be
provided ont of the income from the
farm or by an appropriation from the
state is something to be determined.
In the case of private ownership,
there would be no question, and II tb .
farm is to make good in the final analy.
sis IL must be made self-supporting. At
the same time, 1t will be we'll to remem.
Der that experimental work Is always ex-
pensive and often not remunerative,
simply because conducted largely TO de-
termine theories. Here is q farm pro-
duciug in normal years, nearly three
thousand barrels. Under present condi-
tions these must be shipped at once to
some distant cold storage plant or sold
TO the highest bidder. Iu either case
the loss to the farm is an item of i'm
portance. Given an adequate cold stor-
age plant, on the farm, and the superin-
tendent would be in shape to take ad-
vantage of the market and materially
swell the yearly profits.
tis folly to talk about testing out
different methods Of cold storage, be-
cause the experience of growers in other
states will supply all the data necessary,
and the state is hardly in condition to
equip three or more distinct plants.
All along the New York Central rail-
road, in the great Genesee valley, one
nd nto hu n.
eat and most approved methods, usually
cooled by artificial ice made on the prem
ises, or what is known as ammonia
cooled plants, but these are too expen-
sive to be an object lesson in state
where cold storage has hardly bad be-
ginning and where nature stands ready
TO aid 80 greatly. These plants, capable
Of storing twenty-five or more thousand
barrels, cost from fifty to seventy thou.
sand dollars. The plants cooled and
kept cool by the use Of natural ice are
much cheaper but hardly as satisfactory,
requiring more attention.
In this northern latitude, some OF the
most prosperous orchardists rely on
tenn mperature-cooled buildings and hold
their Mcintosh Red and other early win
ter apples until April or May without
any difficulty.
Cooling the buildings the first Of Octo-
Der by opening doors and windows after
8 P. NJ, and closing by A. NJ, they
soon reach q temperature OF 40, and
then hold there by closing tightly and
using the windows for ventilation. Here
is plan suited to hundreds OF farms 10
Maine, well adapted to our climate, not
expensive to construct or maintain, and
well worth a trial at HighmOor. Best of
all, 1t would serve as an object lesson
for hundreds, because located in the
midst of one of the best orchard sections
Of the state.
What the growers of apples want to-
day, above all else, is opportunity to
store direct from the orchard and hold
for the better demand sure to be met be-
fore Christmas. 1t is folly now to talk
about big storage plants, for We are not
educated yet to an appreciation OF small
or ones, and to rely on outside interests
providing these storage houses is neither
In the interest of good business or econ
omy.
Mr.. Hardy Of Hollis, n. H., built in
1918 cold storage plant capable of tax
ing care of $500 barrels at cost below
$4,000, and finds no difficulty in keeping
an even temperature around 40 degrees,
and this, too, without resort to ice, eth
or natural or manufactured.
To my mind, the building Of q cold
storage house at Highmoor is of great,
est Importance as an object lesson, and
il erected upon some economical basis
will, believe, be duplicated on hun
dreds of farms within five years, thereby
doing an incalculsble service to the in
dustry.
A cold storage plant is demanded
there as matter of economy, and surely
as q stimulus to individual growers.
Beyond there is the possible good along
experimental lines, but all this is prob
lem atical, the real benefit being appar-
ent to anyone familiar with the situa-
ton.
Let's have an apple storehouse built
upon approved plans, for most effective
service, and on basis to be duplicated
by any enterprising orchardist who is
forced to study cost as we'll as saving
DIR. G. NJ. Twitchell in Maine Farmer.