20 



the shipper. With such limited experience, however, the writer does not 

 feel competent to advise upon the method of selling, whether this or any 

 other. 



(3) Character of Fri:it Demanded. If one may judge from the 

 sale of two cars of mixed fruit, the market there demands well-matured, 

 bright fruit of clean, sound appearance. Well-colored Crawford peaches 

 sold much in advance of Elbertas, which, though large, were mostly hard 

 and green. Immature fruit is not wanted. Many of the pears in the sec- 

 ond day's sale were green and very firm, and sold low accordingly. Of 

 apples, well-colored Gravensteins, Wealthy, Alexander, and St. Lawrence, 

 'Commanded the best prices. 



(4) Best Degree of Maturity. A careful examination of the fruit 

 at Winnipeg revealed the fact that the most mature fruit at shipping point 

 was in best condition at the market- Evidently all classes of fruit may 

 be left on the tree until full size and characteristic color have been attain- 

 ed, but should be picked firm, and before the yellow tints, significant of 

 ripeness, have begun to appear. Peaches and pears that were shipped 

 hard and green reached the market without any perceptible change ; those 

 that were semi-firm at shipment had become sufficiently mellow to be in 

 good usable condition. A special report was obtained of one box of 



peaches, among the primest of our two lots- This box at shipping point 

 was reported "semi-firm, a little too ripe for shipment," and the peaches 



were large and well-colored. It was packed on September 15th, loaded 

 September 16th, and sold at Winnipeg September 23rd. On Monday, 

 September 26th, a report was obtained to the effect that only a few of the 

 peaches were then mellow enough to use, and that by the end of the week 

 the whole of the box would probably be suflficiently ripe. 



It seems an opoortunt moment to emphasize the importance of choosing 

 carefully the time for picking and, for fancy fruits at least, of going over 



the tree several times and picking only the ripest at each picking. This 

 phase of the question stands out clearly as a result of our experiment. The 

 fruit should be allowed to attain on the tree its distinctive character, in 

 sizei, color, and flavor. If, in these three particulars, the fruit is imma- 

 ture when picked, it will remain immature. And further, if fruit suffi- 

 ciently mature to have its distinctive size, color, and flavor when picked,, 

 cannot be safely carried to market, then it is detrimental to the reputation 

 of the fruit to carry any. The shippine of immature fruit, it is admitted, 

 has done as much as anything to depreciate prices in distant markets. 



What does the grower gain by the careful selection of fruit on the 

 tree and by successive pickings? He gains (1) a greater quantity of fruit, 

 since the smaller specimens are allowed to grow; (2) fruit of better ap- 

 pearance, on account of greater size, more uniform size, and higher color; 

 (3) fruit of better quality; (4) in a discriminating market, better prices; 

 (5) a better reputation. 



(5) Packing as tt Appeared at the Market. By packing is meant 

 not merely the placing of the fruit in the package, but also the use of 

 wrappers and fillers. 



Two effects should be borne in mind in the packing of fruit : First, 

 the condition of the fruit; second, the appearance of the package. 



