Florida Agricultural Experiment Station


perature and ventilation are undoubtedly the most important
conditions influencing the development of decay in transit. The
lower the temperature, down to certain limits, the more will the
development of decay be retarded. The most favorable tem-
peratures are those between about 420 and 50F. If the tem-
perature of the fruit drops much below 400F. for long periods,
spotting and physiological breakdown may result, which open
the way for the development of decay later. When the tem-
perature of the fruit begins to climb to 700F. and above, the
development of decay in general becomes extremely rapid.
 When fruit is shipped during warm weather, whether by land
or by ocean, it is usually necessary to cool it artificially by means
of refrigeration during transit or to precool it before shipping, or
both. The value of precooling was shown by the work of Powell
and his associates in California in 1908. He found that iced cars
of oranges usually covered about one-fourth of their journey
from California to New York before the average fruit tempera-
ture dropped to 500F. When the fruit is not precooled, frequent
icing is necessary on a journey of this length in warm weather.
Powell also found that the temperature of the fruit protected by
the paper wrappers and packed tightly in boxes, as is custom-
ary, lags considerably behind the air temperature of the car.
This explains why the outside temperature may fluctuate rather
widely within short intervals without causing a corresponding
fluctuation in the fruit and why freezing temperatures outside,
if not prolonged, may not be injurious to the fruit inside a pack-
ed car. Precooling is especially desirable in the ocean transpor-
tation of fruit, where large quantities are stacked in the holds
of ships which require 12 or 14 days to reach European markets.
 After the journey to the market has begun the care of the
 fruit passes into the hands of the railroad or ship agency and
 faulty methods of handling upon the part of the carrier may con-
 tribute to the development of decay. The cars should be iced as
 often as may be necessary and the vents should be properly reg-
 ulated; otherwise the temperature of the fruit may become
 either too high or too low. If the load has to be transferred dur-
 ing transit the crew should be careful in handling and reloading
 the boxes. Cars have been observed arriving on the market with
 the boxes lying flat on the floor and with the bulge side resting
 on the floor or supporting the box above it, thereby bruising
 and mashing a lot of fruit.