TWENTY FIFTH ANNUAL MEETING. 243 



thinned, it was of good size and quality, even beating the extreme drought. 

 The market was glutted from start to finish; prices low, considering 

 other years, yet what abundant crop can you name that is high? To pack 

 good peaches you must prune and thin; to get a profit you must grow to 

 good size, and pack honestly. You will make more clear money by 

 throwing small peaches to the pigs than stufl:ing your baskets with them. 

 Your small ones, such as will not pass through a l:^-inch slot up to 1|- 

 inch, will sell. Those of 1| to 2:^ inches, will bring as much money per 

 bushel, as a rule, sold as they' came from the trees. Above 2^ inches 

 will always sell at a fair price, and that without peddling. Use clean 

 packages, give full measure, make the bottom as good as the top, or better, 

 avoid saving those extra fine specimens for the top, let them mix in, or 

 put them at the bottom — when you empty them out, you have a customer 

 ''for keeps," provided jou remain honest. This is honesty in packing for 

 profit. I do not have to peddle. 



It does not seem necessary at this time to speak of apples, it is so long 

 since we had them. Yet I have faith like a grain of mustard seed that 

 those that have their lamps filled and burning, or have their apple trees 

 in good condition, will next year get their reward, provided they faith- 

 fully fight the enemies. It is expected you will set the head with good 

 specimens. Itis hoped you will fill the barrel with good apples, clear from 

 worms and scabs, brand with your name, and call them No. 1. Make 

 No. 2 the same, except of smaller size. I personally know what that 

 means. I have standing orders, and carried them over for several years, 

 for many barrels of such apples, at any reasonable price. The small ones 

 are the best keepers. Treat pears the same as apples. 



Let your light shine, show your fruit, make your reputation by honest 

 packing for profit. You can spoil it by stuffing one shipment. 



DISCUSSION. 



Mr. Tracy: I am greatly encouraged. Our speaker says that the bottom 

 has dropped out of the berry boxes, and that is a blessing for which to be 

 devoutly thankful, because, in my experience, the bottom has been creep- 

 ing nearer and nearer the top for several years. 



Q. In packing your peaches, would you put the sunny side at top or 

 turn them over? 



Mr. Woodward: This year I have been using a patent sorter, and that 

 is why I spoke of the slots. Anything that will drop through a l|-inch 

 slot goes to the pigs. From 1| to If will bring medium prices, and 2 

 to 2| will bring more money than the majority of peaches from the or- 

 chard if sold as picked. What won't go through the 2^-inch slot are No. 1 

 peaches, and to get more of them through I have placed on the side of this 

 picker, as it runs along, blocks with a piece of rubber packing on, to turn 

 some of them. Occasionally a peach will not go endwise, and it won't 

 drop through; but I want it turned endwise so it will go through. 



Q. Mr. Woodward didn't understand my question exactly. In finish- 

 ing your basket, do you pay any attention to which side up you place your 

 peach with regard to color? 



A. Yes, in some cases. When I am putting up the early peaches, I 

 always turn them right side up, but when it comes to the later peaches, 

 they go to the baskets as they come from the sorter. The size will sell 



