TRANSACTIONS HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY OF NORTHERN ILL. 261 



Mr. Albert Dunlap said the cost of the material for making the 

 boxes is about eight cents each. The cost of the one and a half bushel 

 boxes would not exceed ten cents each. He said they value these boxes 

 highly, and could not well do without them. 



Mr. Piper stated that he had been using a box a little larger than 

 the Dunlap box. His is fifteen inches wide, ten inches deep and twenty- 

 two inches long, made in the same way. 



TIME TO GATHER APPLES. 



Mr. Slade — During last autumn I picked half my apples before a 

 hard freeze. I also picked apples in the morning immediately after a 

 hard freeze, and while they were frozen through, but perceived no differ- 

 ence in them. They are still keeping equally well — better than Eastern 

 apples. 



Mr. D. C. Scofield said it has been said that our apples would not 

 keep as well as Eastern apples, but they were keeping better thisw inter, 

 especially Northern Spy. 



Mr. Minkler — If your apples get frozen upon the tree, do not 

 gather at once, but leave them a few days and they will recover. We are 

 not careful enough in assorting apples for sale, so as to have them all 

 number one. If we adulterate our fruit to put upon the market, it will 

 depreciate the price, and diminish our chances of sales. Let us put 

 up first-class fruit, put our brands upon it, and always keep up to our 

 brands. 



Mr. Brubacker — A part of my apples here on exhibition were 

 caught in that sudden freeze, and frozen through, and a part were not 

 frozen, but no one can tell the difference. Fruit should be carefully 

 picked and handled, as carefully as one would handle eggs, if we wish it 

 to keep well. 



Mr. Minkler — I handle my apples in this way, and won't allow the 

 dealers to whom I sell to unload them unless they will do the same ; it is 

 all-important. 



Mr. Hausen — Different sorts must be gathered at different times; 

 but for keeping well all should be gathered before hard frost. 



Mr. Woodard — I came from New York State to Illinois in 1S51. 

 When in that State I picked my apples early, and left them on the ground 

 to cure, when cured I put them in the cellar; but since coming here I 

 have sometimes gathered too early. 



