y6 STATE POMOLOGICAL SOCIETY. 



loading on to the car and again in removing from the car to the 

 hold of the ship, as the railroad tracks run right along side of 

 the vessel and all cartage is thus avoided. With such lots, also, 

 it is possible to secure heater cars, and removal by through train, 

 so that the minimum of time is spent upon the road. In the 

 case of small lots, on the other hand, several transfers from one 

 car to another, or even removal across the city by truck, may be 

 necessary and the consequent bruising will often result in very 

 serious damage. The freight rates will also be higher, and the 

 length of time for shipment will be longer, and there is an added 

 danger of freezing if fruits are shipped in the winter. In case 

 the fruit is to be marketed in Boston or New York, water ship- 

 ment is preferable to rail, because of the more reasonable rates. 

 The handling, however, may be quite as rough in the one case 

 as in the other and it is doubtful of any great gain is made by 

 this method of shipment. 



It is evident, with these facts in mind, that much advantage 

 will result if growers can unite in a co-operative shipment instead 

 of acting as individuals. The California Shippers' Association 

 usually has one or more agents in various parts of the country 

 whose business it is to keep watch of the different markets and 

 from various points direct the fruits to the best markets. On a 

 smaller scale the same feature may be adopted to advantage in 

 our own State. 



PACKAGES. 



The selection of packages in which to market choice fruit is 

 often a factor of no small importance in the returns. At the 

 present time this question, so far as Maine is concerned, is largely 

 a question of whether boxes or barrels shall be used for our best 

 apples. Upon this point there are wide differences of opinion. 

 But certain it is that whatever the style of package, the size 

 should be uniform so that the buyer may know just what he is 

 paying for. 



There can be no doubt that, in the majority of cases, consumers 

 prefer the box to the barrel as an apple package, for various rea- 

 sons. In the first place the fear of "deaconing" is very general — ■ 

 and not wholly without reason. The opportunity for such a 

 disreputable practice is much smaller when the box is used. 

 Another, and in some cases stronger, argument against the barrel 

 is its size. Many a man would buy a bushel or a half-bushel of 



