148 The Kent Commercial Fruit Shoiv. 



present the box presents the least nnmber of objections, whilst 

 for pears the half box is the most suitable package. 



If the box method, or any method of packing is to be 

 successful, absolute honesty on the part of the packer is neces- 

 sary ; the apples must be uniform in size and quality through- 

 out the box, and there must be no " topping " or the putting 

 of the best fruit in the outside layers with inferior fruit below. 



The cost of box and packing is calculated at Id. — Sd. 



Cost of box 5d. 



Packing (approximately) .... l^d. per box 

 Making up 2s. per 100 



At the Show the exhibits were judged by men experienced in 

 the growing of apples and also by fruit salesmen. Marks were 

 awarded for the different characteristics of the exhibits, and the 

 " score card " used by the judges contains the following 

 allocation of 100 points : — 



Fruit. Packing. 



Size ..... 25 Uniformity of grading . . 10 



Colour 15 Quality of pack . . .20 



Condition .... 20 General appearance . . 10 



The Kent Commercial Fruit Show has certainly made it 

 plain that the growers are willing to adapt their methods to 

 modern requirements ; the demonstration of packing was 

 attended by crowds of spectators, and the interest evolved was 

 such that the Committee have decided to institute a packing 

 competition at the next Show. The quality of the fruit 

 exhibited was admitted, even by the Colonial grower who 

 attended the Show, to be magnificent, in spite of such an un- 

 favourable summer as that of 1912. All the conditions, in fact, 

 seem favourable in the extreme for putting our British grown 

 fruit in the front rank as regards the home consumer, and even 

 of obtaining an export trade (during 1912 some 100 tons of 

 Kentish fruit in boxes were exported to South America), and it 

 is hoped that this is but the beginning of a movement of 

 immense value to the proper organisation and conduct of the 

 fruit growing industry of the United Kingdom. 



M, J. R. DUNSTAN. 



South Eastern Agricultural College, 

 Wye, Kent. 



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