SOCIETY OF CENTRAL ILLINOIS. 255 



four-iiicli fouce lumber rii)pe(l in two. These boxes are clistril)ated 

 by wiii^oii aloii^j^ the trees from which apples are to be feathered. The 

 pickers empty their sacks directly into these boxes, and then the 

 filled boxes are taken direct to the cellar or packing house as desired. 

 By not iillin<^ these boxes too full, they can be ])laced one on top of 

 another in the wagon without injury t(j the fruit. In shippijig to 

 market during the summer and fall, the fruit should be allowed to 

 stand over night if possible, so that it may be cool when it is packed. 

 The barrels must be ventilated at this season. The fruit should be 

 placed stem downward against the head, one or two layers deep, and 

 then the barrel filled carefully, shaking slightly to settle the fruit, 

 and evening off nicely at the top. The barrel should ])e filled a little 

 more than full, and the head pressed into place. The amount of 

 apples that can be pressed into a barrel over that required to fill to a 

 level, will depend upon the fruit itself. Write your commission man 

 t(t advise you of the condition of your fruit on arrival, and you can 

 profit by that. 



Pack honestly and you will soon build up a reputation, and when 

 you find a commission firm that does well by you, stick to it. These 

 houses in the large cities have their regular customers, who will pav 

 more for a brand of fruit that they can rely ujxjn, than take their 

 chances upon new brands. It is as easy to build up a reputation as 

 an honest packer in a large city as in the home market. 



Fruit houses and cold storage I will say nothing about, for I have 

 had no experience with them. I do not doubt their value, but they 

 are beyond the reacli of the ordinary farmer, and those who grow 

 large quantities of fruit can determine their utility as well as T can. 

 I do believe, however, that with a good dry cellar which is frost- 

 proof, any farmer can so keep his winter fruit as to make it a source 

 of profit to himself, and his surplus winter fruit, instead of being an 

 annoyance to him, will be carefully taken care of and solid during 

 the winter. 



I put my apples into the cellar the last of October or first of No- 

 vember, after carefully sorting, placing them in open bins made of 

 pine luml)er, or in barrels, according as I exj)ect to sell in a local mar- 

 ket or ship. Winter fruit J pick as late as possible, being governed 

 by the weather, color of fruit, and how well it adheres to the tree. 

 Place in piles under the north side of the tree, and remove to cellar 

 on a cool day. or during the morning hours. If it is intended to 

 store in bins, I fill the bushel boxes before mentioned at the piles, 

 carefully assorting the fruit at the same time. The filled boxes are 

 transferred to the cellar and there the contents carefully emptied into 

 the bins. 



If it is desired to store in barrels, the barrels are filled in the 

 orchard, headed without the use of the barrel press, and stored in 

 tiers in the cellar, as many deep as cellar will ])ermit. The apples in 

 bottom tiers keep the best. It is desirable to have narrow alleys be- 



