EXPERIMENT STATION BULLETINS. 269 



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the basket, he will be a gainer to the extent of twenty-five per cent., which 

 really belongs to the producer. On the other hand, where the best trade 

 recognizes the peck basket only as a legitimate size, it will be very unwise 

 to ship in fifths, as the shipments from parties who use peck baskets will 

 receive first attention, while those in fifths, which are here regarded as 

 " snides," are sold for what they will bring. 



No arbitrary rule can be given for the grading of peaches, but for an 

 appreciative trade the number of grades should be two, if not three. On 

 the other hand, in some markets and with some dealers, as much can be 

 obtained when fruit is packed without being assorted, as when graded and 

 put up in the most careful manner. 



For the average market, after rejecting all decayed and badly injured 

 fruits, two grades are all that it will be desirable to make. The method 

 of grading will depend something upon the market, but, in a general way, 

 the first grade should contain only large, well-colored peaches that are 

 perfect in form and free from blemishes. All other marketable specimens 

 should go into the second grade; the distinctive line between the second- 

 grade peaches and those that are to be rejected will depend upon the mar- 

 ket and the abundance of the crop. 



If a person can secure a reputation for the grading and perfect packing 

 of his first-class poaches, his brand will secure him an advance of from ten 

 to twenty-five cents per basket above his neighbors, who may have shipped 

 just as good peaches, but for all that the dealer or purchaser may know, 

 unless he inspects every package before buying, he has stuffed with "culls" 

 and the price given will be sufficiently low to insure against loss. The 

 grower who desires to work up a reputation and thus obtain this extra 

 price should carefully brand his packages, showing, in addition to his name 

 and address, the grade of peaches contained in the package and a guaran- 

 tee that the packing is honest. If he does this, and lives up to his repre- 

 sentations, he may be sure of an advance over the market price, and in the 

 case of a glut, when his neighbor may not get enough from his shipment 

 to pay charges, he will be sure of a sale at a fairly remunerative price. 

 Many growers do not place their names upon the packages in which the 

 "seconds" are shipped, although the same guarantee of honest packing 

 would have fully as good an effect with them, as with the first-class fruit, 

 in securing its full value and a ready sale when the glut comes. Even if 

 the packages do not have the name of the shipper upon them, they should 

 bear a private mark that would be recognized by the commission merchant 

 or retailer, and enable him to guarantee the honest packing of the baskets. 



The growers in the "peach belt" are as fast as possible releasing them- 

 selves from the grasp of the South Water street, Chicago, commission men, 

 and are so far as possible seeking out markets for themselves. The ship- 

 ments are generally made by express to consumers and retailers in country 

 towns and small cities in non-peach-growing districts, and if well managed 

 a desirable trade can be built up. For shipping in this way the first-class 

 peaches only are used. 



The so-called wagon trade is of considerable importance. This consists 

 in the sales made to men who have driven, oftentimes, fifty or seventy-five 

 miles, from points in Indiana or Illinois, perhaps, for the purpose of buy- 

 ing ten to forty bushels of peaches. They peddle them out on their way 

 home, reserving enough for the use of themselves and their neighbors. 



One should have some ready communication with his market. The 

 growers in most sections of the "peach belt" can ship either by water to 



