METHODS OF SELLING THE FRUIT, 21 



case of certain varieties, become very conspicuous after the fruit has 

 been picked a short time. Even if it looks well when ]>acked, such 

 fruit is likely to deteriorate greatly before it reaches the market. 



Some of the early apples grown in tliis region are prepared for 

 market in the orchards, but most of them are taken to packing 

 houses, where they can be more conveniently handled. Plate III, 

 figure 1, shows a convenient packing house. The upper portion of 

 the building is used for storing packages, etc. There is a door on 

 each side, thus making it convenient to receive or discharge fruit at 

 any point on the floor. A common method of handling early apples 

 in the packing houses in grading and packing is shown in Plate III, 

 figure 2. 



PACKAGES. 



Several different styles of packages are used in tliis region for 

 early apples, of which the following are the most important. In 

 some sections the |-busliel crate, formerly much used in Delaware 

 for sliipping peaches, was commonl}^ used in the earlier years and 

 is still seen occasionally, though it has passed out of general use. 



The growers in the New Jerse}^ section wdio market their fruit in 

 Pliiladelphia use the half -bushel peach basket, usually without covers. 

 These are shown in Plate II, figure 1. In other important sections 

 a |-bushel basket wdth cover has been used for several years with 

 excellent satisfaction. These baskets may be seen on the wagon 

 shown in Plate II, figure 2. This figure also shows the manner in 

 which these packages are loaded for hauling to the shipping station. 



A few growers pack their fancy fruit in six-basket carriers and 

 find that for some markets it pays to incur the additional expense 

 which tliis style of package makes necessary. Twenty-pound 

 CHmax baskets are also used occasionall}^. 



METHODS OF SELLING THE FRUIT. 



Several methods of selling the early apples grown in this region 

 are practiced. Perhaps the most simple one is that employed by 

 the growers who are located in the New Jersey section witliin 15 to 

 20 miles of Philadelpliia. The fruit is packed in half-bushel baskets 

 as above mentioned, loaded on large wagons built for the purpose 

 (PL II, fig. 1), and hauled directly to the commission houses or other 

 markets. In some cases the grower runs his own stand in the 

 market, perhaps handling truck and other farm produce at the same 

 time. By either of these methods the packages are returned to the 

 grower. 



At the more important shipping centers the growers sell f. o. b. as 

 much as possible, thus avoiding all risk in transit and the possi- 



194 



