212 STATE HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY. 



truth, the baskets might be of the full capacity, there was a lingering 

 doubt of the honesty of the measurement and consequent fears of being 

 cheated. But in the end, many peach dealers have declared in favor 

 of this method of packing. 



Beginning after our fruit has been picked from the trees, first sorting, 

 I would advise that there be three grades of the fruit. The first grade 

 alone (which includes fancy and choice fruit) should be sent to far-away 

 markets. There are two reasons for this. First, because it is the only 

 fruit that will maintain the standard of the peach-growing section, and 

 secondly, because it does not pay to ship inferior fruit where the expense 

 of carriage is so great. This grade, if proper care is exercised in hand- 

 ling, avoiding also hot sun and all rough treatment in transit, can safely 

 be shipped to markets which can be reached in four to five days. But 

 in order to do this, the fruit must have proper care, both before and 

 during transit. In the past season we have set our baskets in a crate, 

 thereby obtaining a lower transportation rate, and saving the expense 

 of racking up. Some of our crates were too light and would not stand. 

 This should be looked after, for the loss is not inconsiderable where the 

 crate is not sufficient to hold the fruit securely. 



For long-distance shipments obtain a refrigerator car with large ice- 

 box. Ice your car at least six hours before loading, and it will be better 

 to have the car cooled down even longer than that, as the results for the 

 fruit would be enough more satisfactory to pay for the extra trouble 

 and expense. Cars should be re-iced in transit at such points as will 

 keep the ice boxes at least half full. Kock or coarse salt thrown upon the 

 ice seems to improve the condition in extremely hot weather. For long 

 shipments the car should not be filled too full; three hundred bushels 

 should be the outside limit to ship in one car, as the hot sun on the 

 roof of the car is a damage to the fruit. The science of refrigeration 

 has been developed in the past few years so that now fruit can be carried 

 from California to New York in good order. If you are not a carload 

 shipper, it would be necessary for you to join some of your neighbors or 

 else organize an association in order to get the best rates and service. 



Promptly on the shipment of fruit to any point, railway companies and 

 all parties interested should be wired the number of the car, so that 

 there need be no unnecessary delay. When the fruit has arrived at 

 its destination, only the door opposite the sun should be opened. If 

 there is plenty of ice used, the fruit will keep in the car at least four 

 or five days, or until sold, but I need scarcely say that the less peaches 

 are handled the better they will maintain their solid and perfect con- 

 dition. 



Second-grade or medium fruit should be shipped to markets near by, 

 where disposition can be made of it. This will be a matter of economy, 

 and cJin be made profitable if handled rapidly and judiciously. Cullings, 

 or third-class peaches, should not be sent away nor mixed with either 

 of the above grades, for the reason, as I have before stated, that it is 

 important to maintain the standhrd and reputation of our superior 

 fruit, controlling good markets and commanding the best prices. The 

 style of package to be used depends largely on the market which is *-o 

 be supplied, as different localities fancv different sizes and kinds. 



