FORTY-FIRST ANNUAL REPORT. 81 



ers, but we can get them in the boxes after a fashion. In almost every 

 case we have got the most for appU^s packed in barrels for the same grade 

 of fruit, although we have succeeded in getting a better price in boxes 

 than any quotations of western fiiiit for that day. This year, for in- 

 stance, on fancy fruit some sold for ^o per barrel, while the same grade 

 sold for $1.50 packed in boxes. It seems to me, however, that we should 

 get this market worked up, but if we sell private orders, it costs more 

 to ship in boxes than in barrels. 



A Member — I think if the same grade of apples were packed in barrels 

 that are packed in boxes, with the stencil of the owner on the barrel, 

 they will bring practically the same price, excepting in private families, 

 and there they may bring enough more to pay the extra cost of packing. 

 It costs more to pack in boxes than in barrels. 

 A Member — How inuch more? 



Answer — Not so vei*^^ much — perhaps from fifteen to twenty cents per 

 bushel. 



Question — What do the boxes cost here? 



Answer — They cost about fourteen cents ready to put the apples in. 

 Question — Nailed up or knocked down? 



Answer — They cost twelve cents at the factory, and I pay a little over 

 a cent a box for nailing up and the paper. 



Question — Do you not find most boxes too light? 

 Answer — Yes, I do. 

 Question — What is your side stuff? 

 Answer — It is five-sixteenths of an inch. 



Mr. Rowe — The average cost of material in California for the apple 

 box is ten and one-half cents in the knock-down. It costs them forty- 

 five cents per one hundred to have them nailed up ready to put the apples 

 in. It costs them from four and one-half to six cents to wrap and pack 

 in the boxes. Total expense of wrapping and packing the apples, includ- 

 ing the paper is less than five cents per box, so that the box and the 

 wrapping is right around fifteen cents. That is where they are putting 

 out the largest quantity of any apples I know of. In Colorado the cost 

 is a little more for the reason that they have no employment for their 

 laborers except during the packing time and so have to get green hands, 

 and that makes it more expensive, but even then the boxes and the pack- 

 ing and wrapping does not exceed twenty cents, which would make sixty 

 cents for packing in barrel. 



Question — Why use boxes, Avhat real advantage have they over barrels? 

 Answer — Well, they look better as a package. The boxes pile up 

 better. You can get more fruit in a given space. 



Mr. Rose — Anybody can pack those western apples when they are 

 graded up. Let the expert come here and pack our Spies. 



A Member— If that expert is brought here I would like to furnish the 

 Spies for him to pack. 



A Member — I have understood that they actually in the Chicago 

 market take the westera apples from the boxes and put them in barrels. 

 A commission man in Chicago told me that when they bought apples 

 from orchards they preferred that they be put up in barrels. When 

 Tommy Smith bought apples out in Colorado he had them put up in 

 barrels. That was to cater to his trade. 



Mr. Rowe — I would just like to say this word further, not to prolong 



