242 STATE HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY. 



There is probably no place on the continent where the producing terri- 

 tory is so near the consuming territory, as Michigan, or where land 

 specially adapted to producing the tender classes of fruits is so limited 

 compared with the large number of cities, villages, and country within 

 easy reach, by means of excellent transportation facilities. 



Having these natural advantages, it only remains to use equal intelli- 

 gence, energy, and business management to profitably compete with the 

 world. 



In conclusion I feel warranted in saying that the officers of the State 

 Horticultural society believe in the fortunate location of Michigan, that 

 they will use all the means they can command to gather the latest and 

 most accurate information in all lines of its work, ever aiming to give this 

 information the widest possible distribution to horticulturists, that the 

 state may reap larger benefits from its golden opportunities. 



HONESTY IN FRUIT PACKING FOR PROFIT. 



BY MR. D. WOODWARD OF CLINTQN. 



This is one of the subjects that is not only threadbare, but the bottom 

 has dropped out. Nothing new can be said to the old grower. Yet the 

 new beginners are numerous, and, regardless of what may be said, many 

 of them suppose they can fool the public by facing packages regardless 

 of all the poor fruit at the bottom. I am sorry to say that many of the 

 older ones have not learned, and never will learn, that honesty in the end 

 pays a profit. 



What pertains to one kiad of fruit would, if the packer did by others 

 as he would be done by, cover the whole ground. 



As the many fruits are largely grown by different parties, I shall com- 

 mence with berries; and they of all others are the most difficult to get on 

 the market uniform as to size and color. They are largely picked by 

 children at a stated price per quart. The pickers are after the quarts. 

 Size, quality, and condition are to many of them of no account. Berries 

 picked by the quart must be inspected, all rubbish and inferior berries 

 removed, and put into clean, well-filled baskets if you would get a profit. 

 A case in point I found in the Rural New Yorker of Nov. 30. "A. A. 

 Halladay, near P.ellows Falls, Vt., says: 'My raspberries brought twenty 

 cents per basket all through the season, and my strawberries eighteen 

 and twenty cents, while other growers about here were having hard 

 work to get ten and twelve cents for berries that were just as good, as 

 they grew on the vines. The difference was in putting them on the 

 market; and between baskets scant, even full, just as they came from the 

 pickers, and baskets heaping full and all carefully assorted, every berry 

 guaranteed a good one or money refunded.' Mr. Halladay reports sales, 

 1895, from his farm of six acres, |1,200. That must represent honest 

 packing and profit, worked by himself and two boys." 



We now come to the peach, which has this year given the most bounti- 

 full crop ever grown in Michigan; and on trees properly pruned and 



