No. 7. DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE. 477 



Nothing pleases the children of North Europe so much as to get 

 bright red apples on the Christmas tree. Color, not size is the meas- 

 ure of value. 



By grading the crop into two or three lots of fairly uniform 

 size, the commercial value can be materially increased. The grade 

 known as ''No. 2 Export," can usually be sent abroad profitably. 



No. 2 Export consist of apples of No. 1 quality and No. 2 or 

 slightly smaller size. All apples for German market should be 

 free from worms in order to pass the rigid government inspection 

 at port of entry. Color is largely the measure or unit of value in 

 both English and European markets. 



The mechanical graders are a great labor saver for this purpose 

 %nd, with slight changes, will do this work as well and much faster 

 than by ordinary methods. 



F. B. Pease & Co., South Ave., Rochester, N. Y., use circular 

 metal cups of varying sizes — in rows of five or six each and four 

 or five rows, arranged on a table about 28 inches x 7 ft., supported 

 by four legs. Fruit put in at end and gradually worked along by 

 a series of rubber covered wooden "fingers," the small fruits pass- 

 ing through the circular rings and larger specimens passing entire 

 length of table to box or barrel at end. 



Another grader consists of a table similar to above in shape, 

 and endless carrier or belt, made by joining many metal rings of 

 same size, moves fruit the length of table but does not turn over the 

 individual specimens and expose all sides to view as in case of 

 former machine. 



Fruit lacking in color and finish had best be shipped in bulk. 

 The demand for this grade is gradually increasing and may indi- 

 rectly be the means of increasing consumption of the better grade. 

 By shipping in bulk, the grower saves cost of package and labor of 

 packing, while the consumer gets more for his money and is able 

 to see the quality thereof. 



Carefully consider the situation in all its bearings — from a large 

 cold storage plant costing thousands, to the home manufacturers 

 of jams and jellies, with an outlay of only a few dollars — then 

 decide where you will "get in the game." 



In regard to the matter of export, I hardly know what to ad- 

 vise. You people are growing a variety which is especially adapted 

 to this territory, one which when grown under these conditions will 

 command a good price in the market. In Western New York we 

 have been through seasons of over-production and low prices. With 

 US under these conditions we found that the only hope then was 

 the export market. We feel reasonably sure that all European mar- 

 kets will pay us full prices for our fruit, and I think that those who 

 keep in touch with this market will, in a few years, have a fairly 

 well established trade. The export trade may be used by following 

 one of three methods: 



First, to export as an individual. Some of our larger railroads 

 have their maj'ine departments at the seaport and it is a part of 

 their business to forward your shipments if you wish, looking after 

 the matter of insurance and freight rates. In that case, you sim- 

 ply ship in your own name or consign to a European house. Another 

 method is to use the so-called insurance broker, who, on receiving 

 the goods, will look after the forwarding and, of course, he gets 



