The state herald., 1917-08-17

Agriculture.)
Put common storage houses for
apples and potatoes in shape. Make
such improvements now. Do not put
this matter OF until harvest time.
Make arrangements now for the
handling Of your perlshable fruit or
vegetable harvesting arrangements,
especially us regards labor, picking
and packing house foremen, and have
packing houses in order. Have crate
and box material on hand. Make ev-
cry possible provision for the proper
and careful handling of perlshable
produce.
II preceding facilities are avail
able, have them in shape for handling
the maximum capacity, efficiently and
quickly.
Remember we must conserve as eff
ficiently us possible all the food prod
ucts produced. The farmer will do
his share only If he exercises every
care in his handling, picking and pack
ing operations SO us to eliminate all
possible waste in transportation, as
on the care exercised In handling de-
pends largely the condition of the
produce when 1t reaches the market.
Shipper and Carrier.
Heavier loading of cars will be nec-
essary II all our perishable crops are
to be moved to market. To prevent
undue deterioration, there must be
full cooperation between shippers
and carriers. The shippers can aid
greatly in making possible the sue
cessful movement of our perishable
food products, through more careful
attention to handling. to maturity Of
product at time of harvesting. to the
securing Of quick cooling by cool night
temperature. by preceding or quick
handling to refrigerator cars, and.
last but not least, to proper slowing
and bracing In the car to facilitate
quick refrigeration and provide safety
Of lading from breakage In transit.
Due attention to proper strength Of
packages Is also essential.
1t Is not sufficient for the fruit and
vegetable growers simply 10 order
their shipping packages In advance.
The manufacturer should be directed
to ship them at the earliest possible
date. Unless this Is done It is prob
able that In many sections the grow
ers will be without packages when the
harvesting season arrives. Storage
space should be arranged for. even
though II requires additional handling.
Careful Grading.
II is Of the utmost importance that
fruits and vegetables be carefully
graded before being shipped to the
markets. The high cost OF production
makes this Of greater importance this
year than ever before. Shipping the
diseased with the sound, the overrlpe
with the properly matured specimens.
and failure to classify the product to
meet the various demands, result In
deterioration. decay and inefficient
distribution. The understandable
and Inferior grades should be con.
verted into by-products. or discarded.
and the good fruit or vegetables sep
arated into classes according to their
quality. In order to minimize contain
marion and therefore prevent waste
as well as to reduce the cost Of mar
ketins.
An example OF the effect Of poor
grading can be seen In the marketing
Of tho cariy .tatoes. Poor grading
TO a large extent causes the Cutting
Of the market and consequent loss to
the producers, dealers and ali con.
ccrned.
Cooperative shipping.
Shipping organizations can pool the
output Of their members and load cars
Of some commodities to full capacity
for large markets. Cars should be
loaded and unloaded by shippers In
the shortest possible time. and any
work In regard to diversion Of cars
In transit should reduce delay as
much ns possible.
Southern growers should study data
published BY the bureau Of crop e.
Inmates with view to determining
what Northern crops seem to be short.
and plan their fall piowing. ETC.. In
preparation for planting the crops for
which there seems likely TO be the
greatest neSd next spring. Both the
condition and the acreage. ns we'll M
the estimated yield. should receive
careful consideration.
Farmers should estimate their labor
needs ns fnr In advance as possible
That is, not only the number Of the
help which will be needed. but the
approximate time when they will nrsi
be needed and the length Of time TINT