208 State Horticultural Society. 



DETAILS OF PACKING AND MARKETING. 



(By Geo. T. Tippin. Nlc-hols, Mo.) 



A more important subject than this nowhere becomes a part 

 of Horticulture. It justly demands most serious consideration and 

 the application of best methods and experiences available in the 

 discharge of these, the most vital points in fruit growing. In many 

 instances during seasons of large crops, like the apple crop of 1906, 

 all the success of having planted right, cultivated right and sprayed 

 right are sacrificed upon avoidable mistakes in packing and market- 

 ing. A recently published story so aptly illustrates this point, we 

 feel you will pardon its appearance in this paper. 



"A short time ago two Englishmen on a visit to Ireland, hired 

 a boat for the purpose of having 2 sail. One of the Britons, think- 

 ing he would have a good joke at Pat's expense, asked him if he 

 knew anything about astrology. "Be jabers, no," said Pat. "Then 

 that's the best part of your life lost," answered the Englishman. 

 The second Englishman then asked Pat if he knew anything about 

 theology. "Be jabers, no," answered Pat. "Well," the second 

 said, "I must say that's the very best part of your life lost." A few 

 minutes later a sudden squall arose and the boat capsized. Pat be- 

 gan to swim. The Britons, however, could not swim, and both 

 called loudly to Pat to help them. "Do you know anything 

 about swimology?" asked Pat. "No," answered both Englishmen. 

 "Well, be jabers," replied Pat, "then both of your lives is lost!" 



We may know plantology, growology and sprayology and yet 

 be unable to reach shore when overwhelmed by a flood of apples like 

 this year, if we do not understand something of marketology. While 

 it is not a part of my subject, yet, in view of the many mistakes 

 which entailed heavy losses in many instances this season, I feel 

 that it will be time well spent to discuss the importance of prepara- 

 tion before taking up the subject of packing. I believe there is a 

 larger per cent, of apple growers in Missouri who do not realize the 

 importance of being ready and prepared to harvest their apples 

 than there is among growers of any other varieties of fruit. This 

 is due to the mistaken idea that apples are so non-perishable that 

 it makes but little difference how or when they are handled. The 

 farmer with ten, twenty or forty acres of wheat does not make the 

 mistake of setting a certain week in June or July, as the case may 

 be, when he will harvest his wheat, whether it is green or two 



