62 



611. -GRADING AND PACKING FRUIT AND 



VEGETABLES. 



Intensive cultivation lias been carried in many places to a high 

 pitch of excellence, and British horticulturists pride themselves, 

 justly, upon their skill as producers. Admirable and necessary as the 

 highest cultivation must always be. ye1 something more is required to 

 ensure complete commercial success, namely, the conveyance of the 

 produce in the best possible style to the market or to the consumer. 

 It is at this point too many tail, and a material proportion of unprofit- 

 able sales is mainly attributable to neglect in presenting goods in the 

 most satisfactory manner. Proofs of this defect are evident in every 

 British market, and commonly the produce of the home -rower may 

 be seen in direct contrast with that of his foreign competitors, to the 

 conspicuous disadvantage of the former. It is the purpose of the 

 following notes to give some directions thai, with the exercise of 

 intelligence in carrj ing them out, may assist in improving the selling 

 value of both fruits and vegetables as produced in this country. 



To aid in grading fruits to the besf ad\ antaye. it must be assumed 

 that the preliminaries of successful cultivation have received due 

 attention. The selection of the best varieties, suitable sites and soils. 

 with every possible care in protecting the trees from attacks of insects 

 and diseases, demand the cultivator's utmost skill and unceasing watch- 

 fulness. Finally, in preparing for the actual work- of grading, the 

 method and time of gathering should receive the strictest attention, 

 or much of the other labour will be reduced in value. It is not 

 sufficiently recognised how* readily all fruits are injured by rough 

 handling. Even hard, unripe, apples and pears are soon bruised, and 

 not only do these marks show as serious defect- in the appearance of 

 the fruits, but the keeping qualities are also affected. 



One general rule is applicable to all fruits, and that is, they should 

 never, if it can be avoided, be gathered when they are wet. especially 

 if they have to be packed for sending a Long distance. 



In preparation for sorting, the fruits should be taken and carefully 

 spread on a table or bench, which may slightly slope to the front, and 

 should be of a convenient height for the packer to stand at. The soft 

 fruits must be conveyed to the sorting room on shallow trays or 

 baskets, so that they can be graded direct without turning them out. 

 When experienced hands are employed some degree of sorting can be 

 done at the time of gathering, thus saving further handling or removal 

 of the fruits, and the grower will in every case endeavour to reduce 

 this to the minimum. 



Several matters have to be considered in the actual work of 

 grading, and an intimate knowledge of the characteristics of varieties 

 essentia] to the best results. The effects of seasons on large crops 

 also demand attention ; for the second grade of one crop mighl rank 

 as the first of an another. It is impossible to lay down a rule that 

 would constitute a standard equally reliable under all conditions, but 

 a general idea can be given of the relative values of different grades 

 under similar circumstance 



