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was over in Britain at the Colonial Exhibition. A great many cargoes of the 
apples that are packed and shipped from Ontario and other parts of Canada to Britain 
arrive there in very poor condition. This arises from many different causes. In the first 
place some of the apples are not fit to be packed or put in the barrels—apples with 
particles of rot upon them or fungus spotting. They are very apt to heat from some 
cause, and the result is that rotting takes place and the barrel of apples is more or less 
damaged. It is rather the exception to find a cargo that comes out entirely in fine order ; 
there is mcre or less damage, which those who ship over there wiil have seen mentioned 
in the returns mostly as “slack, wet.” It occurred to me, and I carried the idea into 
execution, to take a cargo of that sort, open it up, and repack it. Of course there are a 
great many objections to repacking. I would not advocate repacking a good barrel of 
apples, as a rule, because there are more or less bruised specimens in it, and you would 
really lose a considerable number of the apples by the repacking ; that is there are a con- 
siderable number you cannot call first class specimens fit to repack in a smaller package. 
But in the case of a damaged cargo I have known instances where it would be impossible 
to do otherwise than lose money for the shipper by placing them on the market in the 
shape they were in. There would be no way of disposing of them in the condition in 
which they were landed and making money of them for the shipper. Then the question 
is what can be done? I find in the majority of cases of that sort that there is a large 
quantity of really good apples, for which, by repacking them in a smaller package, I could 
realise fancy prices. Tor well culled, unitormly sized, finely colored fruit an extra price 
can always be realised in the British market, and by observing that I have been able to 
bring the shipper out money in pocket when he would probably have been at a heavy loss 
otherwise. Now, I would like to hear from those who have had personal experience in 
this matter of repacking what objections there are to that method. Our company has 
the idea of going into it if it is found to be in the interest of the fruit growers in Canada. 
We have all the accommodation and necessary arrangements made to do so and at a com- 
paratively nominal cost to the shipper or grower. My own belief is that it is going to be 
largely a matter of experiment for I have met very few persons who have any actual 
experience in it. You must look for a loss in repacking; but under any circumstances, 
with such cargoes there is more or less loss at any rate. I would prefer selling the fruit 
in the original package if it was in anything like the proper condition, but, as I have said 
before, such cargoes are rare. 
The Secretary.—You spoke of putting the apples in a smaller package. What des- 
cription of package ? ’ 
Mr. Antan.—lI trade the barrels off for boxes and baskets; anything I can get. 
There is little or no difficulty in making a trade of that sort and I certainly found it 
advantageous to sell in small packages. I see but one disadvantage in getting second- 
hand packages. They judge fruit in the British market by the package in which it is, 
if they see a fine, well got up package they want to see what’s inside it and they conclude 
at once that a man who has packed in that way cannot afford to put a poor article in the 
package. Every one is keen to get hold of such packages and they will always pay more 
than enough to cover the extra cost of packing. 
A MempBer.—Wvuld you ship half barrels? 
Mr, Attan.—Yes ; I think so. We used to sell pears by the barrel, but pear grow- 
ers have learned that there is more money in selling them by the basket. You can make 
a good deal more money by selling them in the smaller package even in our own markets. 
Mr. Nicnot.—What do you think of box crates holding a bushel anda half of apples 
Mr. AtLan.—I believe there would be more money than in shipping in the ordinary way 
in barrels and they would not cost any more. For one firm we are making a specialty 
this year by putting up apples in crates, so many boxes toa crate. The boxes are sup- 
plied with a pasteboard division the same as egg boxes and an apple in each division, 
packed just as eggs are. They are putting up fine Wealthy and Fameuse apples that way. 
Mr. Nicaou.—lI think they would be more careful with a box than a barrel, which 
is rolled, would they not? 
