rotectior Lot E Fruits WV orouibles bad ‘oh’ ao Products faa Injury by Heat: - :

or eels during Transportation.

njurious & i oatishebls articles, under different conditions, have been

received by the Weather Bureau from the shippers throughout the

country in reply to a circular letter on the subject, and are published

“oat for the benefit of all concerned:

In the transportation of perishable freight there are three primal

objects to be attained :

_ 1, The protection of the shipment from frost or excessive cold.

; 2. The protection of the same from excessive heat.

3. The circulation of air through the car, so as to carry off the gases generated by this class of freight.

" The temperatures at which perishable goods would be damaged vary greatly with different commodities, their condition when shipped, how long they may be in transit, whether they are kept con-

. tinually in motion, etc.

In transporting perishable articles injury can occur from long exposure to a temperature but little below 32°, or from a shorter ex- posure to a greater cold, so that the duration as well as the intensity of the cold must be considered.

Oranges on the trees will stand a temperature of 26° for an hour or so, but if exposed to that temperature for four hours will freeze in- side.

Oranges slightly frozen, when placed in a cool room and thawed out gradually, are sweetened, and may be considered by some people as

improved, but when frozen solid and thawed they have a “ sickish ” sweet flavor.

When oranges have been frozen they can be thawed without injury by putting them in cold water or tight barrels immediately after arrival, and allowing them to thaw out gradually.

In shipping perishable goods a great deal depends on the condition of the car; if the car is tight and in good shape apples and potatoes will stand a zero temperature.

Irish potatoes in a store, with a cellar under them, will stand a temperature of 10°, and without a cellar a zero temperature will not hurt them.

Articles shipped from the North to the South during winter should be in a perfectly dry condition.

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Asa. rile, truckers will at haul vegetables to tite. cars Pes Piet ment when the temperature reaches 20°, or lower, and i in no besoin ie e

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it is near 32°, if raining or snowing.- “4 Miah Ny

The degree of cold to which perishable goods may be acbjeoted us without injury depends on the time the shipment will be on the road, | also whether it will be unloaded immediately upon arriving at Pei: destination or allowed to stand twenty-four hours, also direction of shipment, whether toward a cold area or away from it. .

Shucked oysters shipped in their own liquor in tight barrels will not spoil if frozen while in transit. Thick or fat clams or oysters will not freeze as readily as lean ones, as the latter contain much more water. Oysters will not freeze as readily as clams. It is safer when oysters or clams in the shell are frozen to thaw them out gradu- ally, in the original package, in a cool place. Clams and oysters in transit through a snowstorm will not freeze as readily as when the weather is fair and a stiff wind prevails.

Canned tomatoes when frozen become stringy, canned fish soft and mushy, lemons black and spotted, olives soft and rancid, pickles soft and unsalable.

The temperature to which lemons, oranges, and bananas may be > exposed without damage varies in different localities, and the different temperatures at those points seem to depend a great deal on the moisture.

Shippers and agents concur in the statement that danger in trans- portation by freezing has been practically eliminated in the shipment of produce by modern methods; the lined car suffices in spring and autumn and usually during the winter, while in extreme weather the Eastman heater car is used. The temperature of the produce when put into the car is quite a factor to be observed. It is also claimed that a car load of produce, like potatoes, will stand a lower tempera- ture when the car is in motion than when at rest.

Fruit should not be subjected to a temperature lower than 35° or higher than 60°. Wines should not be subjected to a temperature lower than 20° or higher than 72°.

In ordinary freight cars perishable goods can be shipped with safety with the outside temperature at 20°, and in refrigerator cars at 10°.

If perishable goods are put in a box car upon a cold day, and they have radiated considerable heat before being shipped, they will not be able to withstand as low a temperature, and here is where the differ- ence as to the degrees of temperature mainly applies.

Fruit wrapped in heavy brown paper will stand 15° more cold than if not wrapped.

In what are known as refrigerator cars, perishable goods may be safely shipped with a temperature outside of from zero to 10° below;

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“While a temperature as low as freezing (32°) will not injure pota- __ toes for eating purposes, yet they will fail to sprout in the spring. e : Roses and cut flowers will not be injured unless the temperature - falls to 32°. Roses need as low a temperature as possible without freezing, because they are shipped as buds and would develop if the _ temperature were high. ‘It appears to be generally conceded that goods, when free from undue dampness, that is those classed as dry, will stand a much lower degree of temperature without injury.

METHODS EMPLOYED BY SHIPPERS OF PERISHABLE GOODS TO PROTECT THE ARTICLES FROM DAMAGE BY FREEZING, BOTH BY PACKING AND SHIPPING, IN CERTAIN KINDS OF CARS.

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Many of the precautions in packing that may keep out the cold would also keep in the heat, and there is really more danger, in some instances, from heating, by process of decomposition, than from cold.

In shipping car loads of bananas a man is usually sent in charge to open and close the ventilators.

Precautions taken in shipping are papering, packing in straw or sawdust, boxing, barreling with paper lining, shipping in paper-lined cars, refrigerator cars, and cars heated by steam, stoves, and sala-

- manders.

During cold weather oysters and clams should be shipped in tight barrels lined with paper.

; In shipping perishable goods it is well to cover them with two _ sheets of heavy paper, weighing about 14 pounds each,

7p Na I ee Ce Pe eee) - °F ay e's.) a Mae Wee al Preey wa ae ) ‘ eT ni yy ee Raat Wiis : v3 Re

Bananas should be put in a paper bag and a heavy canvas bag then covered with salt hay, but when put in automatic heat 2 fruit,is packed only in salt hay. si

In packing articles in a car for shipment, potatoes are packed an” ed straw, bulkheaded back, center of car left empty, and car filled as. ey high as double lining, while some of the cars have a double bottom. — iy

French mustard and aqua ammonia are packed in sawdust and : securely boxed, being careful to allow the sawdust to form a layer ie t between the articles and the side of the box.

Eggs are packed in crates with separate pasteboard divisions with: Bs

‘a layer and a cover of oat chaff. mt

Quinces, apples, onions, and pears are packed in barrels, each ies ay of barrels covered and resting on straw. q

Tomatoes, lemons, and oranges are packed in Re each layer of crates in the car is covered and rests upon straw, usually bulkheaded — back from the door and car full. 2

Shrubs and fruit trees are laid on straw, covered with it on all © sides, and car packed full.

Flowers are packed in moss and car filled.

Flowers, shrubs, and trees should have their roots carefully packed — in straw and the roots placed together in two or three piles, so as to protect them; if the roots are killed, they are of a uniform black; if only injured-by frost, the root is pinkish in color just below the outer covering; and if sound, they are of a uniform white. Even if of a dark pink color, no damage need result, if the frost is gradually thawed out by the trees being left in the closed car for four or five days, or else put the roots well down in the soil in a horizontal posi- tion and thaw out gradually.

Extra precautions are taken with trees, etc., when passing over mountains, and no shipments are made when the temperature is likely to be zero any where in the higher regions.

Cars containing perishable goods are sometimes, when a north wind is blowing on the prairie, covered with canvas on the north side.

Oranges shipped from Florida to points as far north as Minnesota are started in ventilator cars, which are changed at Nashville to air- tight refrigerator cars, the ventilators of which are kept open, pro- vided the temperature remains above 32°, until arrival at St. Louis, from which point the ventilators are closed and the cars made air | tight.

In winter time refrigerator cars are used without ice in forwarding goods from the Pacific coast, and in passing through cold belts or stretches of country the hatches are closed, and the cars being lined and with padded doors, the shipment is protected against the outside

temperature; but in passing through warmer climates the ventilators

Paaeict eas shipped in an ordinary car, the sides of the car d be euicaney by heavy paper tacked to the wall and by the ad-

higher than that of the outside air. In shipping potatoes, when the temperature is 12°, or more, below

_ All products sent loose in a car are packed in straw on all sides, _ ‘paying particular attention to the packing around doors, and to see that the car is full. Certain classes of goods, embracing peaches, melons, and grapes, “are taken by some railroads in no other way.

To transport potatoes, place an extra floor and sides in the car,

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y leaving an air space of from 4 to 6 inches, then place a stove in the center. |

: Me Oranges loadéd- in ventilated or common cars should be transferred 4 to refrigerator cars when the temperature reaches 10° above zero. ij _ When oranges are transferred to refrigerator cars, or if loaded in ven-

- tilated refrigerators, and the ventilation is closed, the car must be iced sufficiently to prevent heating. Ventilators on cars containing bananas, lemons, and other delicate fruits must be closed at a temperature of 40°. ia Cars are warmed by steam from the locomotive when in motion, and by stoves when steam is not available. Cars after being loaded are carefully inspected as to temperature within, their destination considered, and if the weather is exceedingly ‘ cold, or is liable to be, the car is often accompanied by an attendant ; _ otherwise it is inspected from time to time on the road. Oranges in transit, with a falling temperature, the ventilators should Y be closed when the thermometer reaches 20°, and with a rising tem- perature the ventilators should be opened when 28° is reached. For lemons the minimum is 35° for opening and closing the ventilators, ___and for bananas, 45° for opening or closing. : * _ Lined cars, that is, cars lined with tongued and grooved boards on

(ass the sides and ends, leaving an air space of about 4 inches, are con- a

by an ae stove, and will stand a temperature outeide of low zero, when a man is in charge to keep oP the fires.

“ PRANSPORTATION ¢ OF PERISHABLE GOODS.

From six observations taken at intervals of ten minutes it was — _ found that on a warm day, when the mean of the six readings out- — ‘ ; side was 68°, it was 66° on the inside of an ordinary freight car, and 63° inside of an uniced refrigerator car; on a cold day the mean of — six observations was 33° outside and 35° inside of an ordinary car, and 38° inside of a refrigerator car; the car was stationary. iS

The difference of temperature inside and outside of acarisfrom 5° to 15°, depending whether it is an ordinary freight car or refriger- ator car, whether lined or not, and whether there are strong winds.

The difference of temperature in a box car and the outside air is_ from 8° to 6°, according to how tight the car is built.

Refrigerator cars, immediately upon: being opened, showed 31. 80 on coldest day to 40° on warmest. An Eastman heater showed 75° at 5° a. m., while the temperature of air was 55°; fire was put out and at 9.30 a. m. the temperature was 60°.

The relation between air temperature and temperature within a car — varies somewhat. Ordinarily a temperature of about 20° outside cor- responds to a freezing temperature (32°) within the car. The rela- tion between the two is in proportion to the speed of the car. With a car standing still the difference is very slight.

Refrigerator cars are the most desirable for shipping, as the differ- ence in temperature within such cars and the outside air amounts to from 15° to 30°, the sides being filled in with sawdust and the cars provided with heating apparatus, which permits of shipments being made in them, however cold the weather might be. For ordinary win- ter weather, the temperature ranging from 10° to 30° above zero, refrigerator cars may be used for shipment to any distance without being heated.

Freight from the Pacific coast to the Mississippi Valley, or even to the Atlantic coast has to pass through almost every variety of cli- mate at any time of the year. It is therefore obvious that at one time the temperature inside of the car is materially above the out- side temperature, while perhaps a few hours later, it is below.

The difference between the air temperature and that of the inside of an ordinary car depends upon what the car is loaded with; if ap- ples, the difference will be from 10° to 12°, if potatoes from 15° to 18°, warmer than when unloaded.

Perishable goods.

A ples, in oe Wal gnes aie ferate'e sisisiele sine Abples; loose. caldlsislbicelsie’vc sesvsicinees Apricots, baskets..... veveee cececens - Aqua ammonia, bbIS.............-.. SA TIGIES wcidietetels s'v's/a sjeie'sin els|c eieleicle « sie'e Beer or ale, kegs .. Aon SApspoue - Bluing..... ee enaa lets soe atige Rieigreisia's Cabbage in erates .......+4 weecevccee CantalOUpeS ... 22... ccsecceceeseces COLONY ie Seeisclse eres intaistere'eic|a‘piofarsta/s'er OREM aie ecilin/<nlg/e'eivicicle.c s(eveia’es oje\u sine Melee sieisin\ tol ait aida sis,c.0<|alore cien.cele AGU eaanele intcisialetsinicle)sicie = 's,s/elv'v)0's 0.0 cele Cranberries rey Riuajetnie aisatersis WGCOANUG celica csinbonscce 0s aa ewe Drugs (cnsaleonolicy i Ga a eas Eggs, barreled or caved ssialate eters Extracts (flavoring) .. Fish, canned........ ay Flowers <........00. eetsiena este el ti's’ sca Grapes.. Risictetiniaialaie'y sicistalote/s ala\ate ee Grape fruit . Bestele alu Slaiola‘osslsie(s ¢:sisi0/e's\e, Groceries, liquid Beas aitafe aie aieis-0'e e's “ifs Mi cee atarcle/os ole ola olere BE e eta ol stelaie iain eereerese Lemons, Ao Gai a aia Tee cM Ee ir ee WVPUIAGREST Lets oie ia)</ncorelels aes aieo ss e/eivie slate Medicines, patent....... SHON OSHE Milk

Mucilage... 4

Mustard, French OTNBO SEL DUDS (2c scieiciea sje vee civioccce ONDER CLASES. oj. op c:nlcisaacijpee sacle Oranges, box€d .......ccescces Arar Onions, boxes........... dee ASA Goe a Oysters BUS ME Ny DLE dicts ierora)a.cve eia:e'e. «1s Oysters, shucked......2... | a ageA FERUGM nis cicials'sje a \6'se\vicicieveine savteleimbic's.0 Peaches, fresh, baskets...cc...cc00 . Peaches, canned .. Roe Rice a sere'e oa wants Pickles in bulk. Pickles in glass .

Pineapples .......

PAGS io) .5 dcieisioie « ov ae

Potatoes, Irish, bbls ........-..2000 Potatoes, sweet........... See Seis Shrubs, roses or trees .......+.. = See Strawberries ........ SUsditcle mene ctwieleie Tangerines ....... pis cits) s\eTe/6)s)e]elere\e era! Tomatoes, fresh.......-... aie aaisihian\ Tomatoes, See: Nataiatatal stare wia’cleeranie Vegetables.. oereeleweleieiea Sainislalatere Vinegar, EM RUN bus ucwactans

Waters, mineral .. Eiaetete tel ote stnia'sis'e, sim Lota Sasa Ais nial aiatalel ejaieisie ele: bis Sat

The lowe rd bigest ieiatinle to which perishable goods may be subjected to without injury under the conditions stated.

Lowest outside| 2. | temperature, On : S58 ' ‘ ie 8 mice chien | Sal bee Segi¢./8".| 82 g 28 5 z 3 me Be Remarks. RQ S| Oro. |) cee n o w~ | DS Hd a. [SA | Hoe | 29 On WO) Bon | BS 5sa8 o| eas | 8 BEEP] ge | C2! o EB Eel HH a ical ° ° Co) 20 ro In barrels covered with straw. 28 15 Packed in straw. 35 24 30 20 rt 50 32 In paper bags ; packed in salt hay. 25 20 Packed in manure and shavings. 30 20 30 20 32 25 30 25 In boxes. 30 25 22 18 25 18 28 20 26 20 32 28 30 20 20 15 18 15 35 20 -| Packed in moss. 34. 20 Packed in cork. 32 20 32 20 20 15 30 20 25 20 32 20 In boxes. 32 28 Packed in sawdust. 32 28 25 15 26 20 28 25 .| In barrels, 25 20 25 15 20 15 15 10 30 20 Do. 32 25 Do. 32 20 20 15 22 18 Do. 20 16 35 32 35 32 In boxes with paper. 33 25 35 28 In barrels. 35 10 In canvas or sacking. 33 25 25 15 In boxes. 33 | 28 28 25 Do. 33 30

| Marx Wo earn oick Chief of Bureau.

U. S. DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE, WEATHER BUREAU, Washington, D. C., August 22, 1894.

IBRARY OF CONGRE

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