23G STATE rOMOLOGICAL SOCIETY. 



number of quarts they can pick. This saved the relianilling and sortinjs^, which 

 is quite important witli strawljerries, I never allowed pickers to take hold of 

 the berries and pull them, but to take hold of tlie stem close to the berry and 

 pinch or cut them otf with the nail. Picked in this way the berry is not 

 marred, and with the short stem will keep much longer in good condition. 



I was raised in western New York, a section thought at that time to be the 

 best apple section in the country. I was surprised on coming AVest to see the 

 way ai)i)les were brought to market; thrown into a wagon in bulk, having the 

 iippearance of being shook from the tree, at that. My conlidence in their 

 keeping qualities was so much shaken, I imported live barrels from the east at 

 iine xpense of live dollars per barrel, but the following July I presume I had 

 the only apples in Kalamazoo. Apples in western New York are all carefully 

 picked, assorted, and packed in barrels in the orchard. The first tier on the 

 bottom must all be put stem down, and the barrel lilled so full that it requires 

 n hard pressure to get the head in. This makes them so tight that if carried 

 4iuy distance they will not become loose. If the buyer finds a barrel packed so 

 ^s to rattle, it is rolled out one side. Each barrel is marked with the producer s 

 ■name. 



I have picked ten barrels of apjdes from one tree and sold the same for three 

 •dollars per barrel, nuiking 830. Ilow long would we have to crop the same 

 ground with any kind of field crops to realize the same money? I have been 

 in Michigan thirteen years, and I am convinced we can grow just as good apples 

 here, and tliat will keep as well when our trees have attained the same age, and 

 "we handle witli the same care. 



It may not be generally understood that the same kind of apples grown on 

 young trees will not keep as well as those grown on older ones. The fruit of 

 young trees is usually liandsome and larger, and matures earlier, and is not as 

 firm or fine grained, and therefore, will not keep as well. 



It is frequently asked what is the object and good of this Society? Let us be 

 able to answer in the near future, that through it, a world-wide reputation for 

 our fruits has been established that shall be the envy of every State in 

 the Union. 



Byron Markham, Saugatuck. — I am satisfied that there would be money in 

 throwing away the small fruit rather than sell it mixed with the best of the 

 crop, and I thoroughly appreciate the force of Mr. Stearns' remark, that by 

 separating out the small specimens from each box or basket we do not lessen to 

 any great degree the volume of the best quality, and the seconds are clear 

 gain when marketed by themselves. But there is one point in connection with 

 marketing that presents a discouraging state of affairs. A man puts up this 

 fruit in tlie best shape possible, and is proud to have his name accom})any the 

 package. It reaches Chicago or some other great mart and the package is 

 overhauled, small specimens put in the bottom, put together again, minus some 

 of the best samples, and still the name of the grower accompanies the ])ackagc. 

 If this tiling cannot be stopped a man cannot even by the most strict integrity 

 control his own reputation. 



;Mr. Emery, Chicago. — In the newer tricks of marketing, I note the employ- 

 ment of colored tarletan, which gives the fruit, whatever it may be, a rich 

 roseate hue, and is in itself an illustration of tlie oft repeated quotation, ''There 

 are still unexplored regions of conscience." A man who wishes his fruit to be 

 appreciated for what it is worth, will do well to put up such a quality as will 

 need no assistance of colored covering to give it a respectable appearance. 



