The Bullktix. 113 



At prosont thero are no packafjcs uiii versa lly recoj^iiizid as lo;;ally standard, 

 yet the one cliaraeteristic most notable of the American itackajuie is its uni- 

 formity. AKlion.^h many poorly consfructod. "short." inferior [)ackages are 

 still found on the markets, it will l)e hut a (piestion of time before this type 

 will become so thoroughly un])opular that the unscrupulous .i,'rower and packer 

 who desires to use them will bo com[)elled to reco.i;nize the demands of the 

 trade reuardinj; uniformity or go out of business. While uniformity is a 

 marke<l characteristic of the American i)acka.i,'c. a great many grow<'i's fail 

 to grasp the imjiortancc of this iioint. They sliii) fruits In jiackages that may 

 answer tlu* requirements of their local markets, but that do not comply with 

 the demands of distant markets. As a result, dissatisfaction arises between 

 the grower and the buyer. The bu.ver discriminates against this fruit, the 

 grower becomes discoiu-agtMl. an<l the business that might hav*' become very 

 profitable is givcMi up in disgust, all on account of the disregard, on the part 

 of the grower, of market requirements. Growers should become familiar witli 

 the conditions and preferences of the markets on which they expect to place 

 their fruits. The business of marketing fruit has become so well developed 

 that there is ho reason why one should not bo thoroughly acquainted with 

 the present requirements and conditions of any market. Buyers, commission 

 merchants, and produce dealers in general are always willing to furnish grow- 

 ers with any information regarding the preparation of fruits for sale, and 

 the most desirable packages to use in placing tliese fruits on tlie different 

 markets. If growers would visit the n)ark(>fs to which they send tlieii' prod- 

 ucts they would become better acquainted with existing conditions, and would 

 be enabled to prepare and pack their fruit to the better satisfaction of both 

 the buyer and themselves. 



The practice of labeling or branding fruit packages is a point worthy of 

 some consideration. ]Many growers do not appreciate the importance of this 

 feature, particularly with reference to the sale of their fruit each successive 

 year*. They seem to hesitate about the small additional expense incurred, and 

 do not consider that the money spent in this way will result in a quicker and 

 more profitable sale of their fruit during coming seasons. It has been only 

 within recent years that growers have made any attempt at marking their 

 fruit packages before placing them on the market. In practically every other 

 branch of industry producers have marked their goods with some label, brand 

 or trade-mark, to distinguish them from the productions of others. The sale 

 of these products is greatly infiuenced by this distinction. 



The man who puts up an honest pack of first-class fruit in uniform, well- 

 coustructed packages need never fear that the money spent for attractive 

 labels will be wasted. Such a brand will often insure against loss during 

 gluts, and cause prompt sales at advanced prices when the conditions affect- 

 ing demand and supply are normal. For instance, a grower, after carefully 

 gr<iding and packing his fruit, puts his label on each package ; they go to 

 market, are exposed for sale, a buyer purchases them and upon examining the 

 contents finds he has received full value for his money. He immediately looks 

 to see where the fruit came from and by whom paclied. The next time he 

 has to purchase this same kind of fruit, whether the same season or the next, 

 he looks for this brand. Thus the label has accomplished two purposes : it 

 has been a guarantee and has served as a means of advertising. 



THE HOME VEGETABLE GARDEN. 



By O. M. Clark. 



The pleasure and profit to be derived from a good vegetable garden is a 

 privilege enjoyed to its fullest extent only by those leading a rural life; but, 

 strange to say, the average farmer painfully fails to appreciate this rare 

 privilege. In fact, in many cases he neglects this opportunity to such a pitiful 

 extent that we are prone to think that he. more than any other person who 

 pretends to have a garden at all. needs to be urged to have, and informed how 



December — S 



