The Value of Careful Packing and Handling. 139 



them in new, bright, well and neatly made packages, avoiding those of odd 

 size, shape, or second-hand, never permitting your barrels or boxes to be ex- 

 posed to the effects of the sun or rain ; ever bearing in mind the fact that 

 your goods must be exposed for sale in competition with those of other pro- 

 ducers, and that a neat, bright package will, m every case, attract the eye of 

 a buyer before that of your less careful neighbor, is the first to sell, and usu- 

 ally at the best price. 



The President — This paper is full of weighty subjects. 



Mr. Munson, of Texas — I would like to propose a vote of thanks 

 for this paper. It will afford information, if heeded, which will do 

 fruit growers more good than any other paper I have heard. 



As the report of the Committee on Packages was not ready, the 

 discussion on this paper was deferred for awhile, and a paper was 

 read by E. H. Williams, of Indiana. 



31r. Williams — At the meeting at New Orleans was, perhaps, the 

 first time commission men and horticulturists were brought together. 

 There I got the sobriquet of crown-borer, from some remarks I 

 made, so I am in favor of the Committee on Nomenclature. 



THE VALUE OF CAREFUL PACKING AND HANDLING. 



BY E. H. WILLIAMS, OF INDIANA. 



The subject assigned me is not of my own selection, and is one that would 

 seem useless before a convention composed of such men as are here assem- 

 bled. Yet it is given me as the task to the " galley slave," and I am expected 

 to present a paper upon it, although it may be as poorly prepared as some of 

 the fruit consigned to us. Yet it is a subject that has a very important place 

 in horticulture. 



I also realize the fact that we are but a representative body, and that the 

 information gained by the papers and discussions in this convention pass 

 under the hand of our able Secretary, and are carefully compiled in book 

 form for the benefit of the amateur and imperfect horticulturist, so that if 

 what I may say is of but little information to those present, it may be to 

 others. 



A man becomes a self-made fool when he thinks he has learned all there is 

 to learn. But while not in that condition, we are all liable to pick up truth 

 and information from almost any one and on any topic, as few have ever been 

 exhausted. We must all agree in the old adage, " that what is worth doing 

 at all is worth doing well," and there is nothing this more aptly applies to 

 than the handling of fruit. 



It is not so hard a matter to raise fruit as to prepare it for market. How 



