Miscellaneous. 379 



"I believe the apple shipper cannot do better than to stand for better 

 packing among the growers and a more extensive and proper use of the 

 cold storage. I can speak only from a limited experience of the methods 

 follow^ed in Missouri, Arkansas, Kansas and some few other states in 

 the Mississippi Valley. Here is an opportunity for the apple shipper to 

 stand for better methods, which will induce the grower to do much bet- 

 ter along this line, and get his fruit into cold storage in better shape. 

 Fruit is taken from cold storage all over the country in as good shape 

 as here in St. Louis. Experiments by the United States Department of 

 Agriculture and the various state Experiment Stations have settled 

 definitely the best temperature for cold storage, and if the fruit can be 

 kept at this temperature, one house is as good as another. 



"It pays and pays well to wrap all good fruit. We see examples of 

 this almost every day in unpacking fruit for exhibition. Barrels of w^rap- 

 ped fruit when opened w^ill scarcely contain half a dozen apples unfit for 

 exhibit, and many barrels have been used entire on the exhibit tables, 

 not one having to be discarded. On the other hand, we occasionally re- 

 ceive a barrel of apples that have not been wrapped. Seldom more than 

 half of these are fit specimens for exhibit, and it is not uncommon to 

 find only a dozen or so we can use at all. I believe we will soon see the 

 clay when all first grade stock will be shipped in wrappers. The apple 

 shipper should emphasize this point in all his dealings for a short time, 

 and get the grower started to better care for his fruit. The time is 

 fast coming when fruit wull be shipped in small packages for the fancy 

 market. This seems to be best for all concerned. Hence it will pay to 

 wrap fruit and cater to the fancy trade. It is a business proposition and 

 there is monev in it." 



WHEN AND HOW TO CUT SCIONS. 



When and how should scions be cut for grafting apple trees, and 

 how keep them after cutting till they are used? I have 10 large trees 

 of that absolutely worthless apple (except for hog feed) known as Ben 

 Davis, and I want to graft them to something good to eat, as there is no 

 market here for apples at a price that will pay for picking and drawing. 

 In my own and my neighbors' orchards are plenty of good kinds, and 

 I have seen grafting done, so I think I can do it. 



Stanton, Mich. E. H. 



Apple scions are best cut in autumn or early winter, before hard 

 freezing, but may be cut any time after the leaves fall, and before the 



