324 ANNUAL REPORT OF THE Oft. tJoC. 



donia, N. Y., some Cut-leaf Weeping birch that were the finest trees 

 of this kind I ever saw. They were about 50 years old and not yet in 

 the height of their beauty. As to the oalv, it is one of the hand- 

 somest of trees, but there is some objection to it as a lawn tree 

 owing to the fact that it drops its foliage all winter and is in con- 

 sequence a source of trouble to the lawn mower. Sweet gum is even 

 more beautiful than the maples, and is hardy within 30 miles of 

 Lake Erie. 



Mr. Moon : I agree with Mr. Pierce as to the magnificence of the 

 elm as an avenue tree. It cannot be surpassed where it succeeds, 

 but it does not thrive everywhere as in New England. As to the 

 Sweet gum, I have known it from boyhood but have never known 

 it to sucker, as stated by Mr. Pierce. It is as common as any na- 

 tive tree, and one of our finest trees in Eastern Pennsylvania. I 

 have sold it for cemetery planting, but it is objectionable for that 

 purpose because the gum and moisture which drop from the foliage 

 will discolor the stones. 



Mr. Pierce: Prom my observation, I was under the impression 

 that the sweet gum suckers — what I took for suckers — may have 

 been seedlings. 



THE PACKING AND SHIPPING OF FKUIT FROM A COMMIS- 

 SION MERCHANT'S STANDPOINT. 



By THOMAS RENTON, Castle SJiannon, Pa. 



This subject can be best considered by starting right from the 

 ground. The grower must learn by experiment and by conferring 

 with his brother horticulturist, what varieties will suit his soil, and 

 the condition under which he intends to market his crop; and on 

 this point it would appear that great benefit can be derived from 

 such associations as your honorable body, and that you should have 

 the active and earnest co-operation of intelligent and progressive 

 growers. The classification and grading of all lines of produce, is 

 getting to be of more importance every year, and the grower who 

 attempts to grow and handle fruit as it was done a generation ago, 

 cannot expect any greater success than is secured in any other busi- 

 ness by old fashioned and out-of-date methods. If the grower is 

 close to a home market to which he can haul his produce and handle 

 it himself, he will soon learn what varieties and what packages best 



