THE MARKETING OF TOMATOES, E75 
April the average will rise to 3 ounces and more. 
In May, well pollinated fruits often weigh 7 or 8 ounces. 
The weight of the best fruits is often increased by cut- 
ting off the smallest and most irregular ones. The larg- 
est forced tomato which I have ever seen was grown 
by John Kerman, Grimsby, Ontario. It weighed 24% 
ounces. It was an Ignotum, and was picked in June. 
Mr. Kerman reports* another fruit of the same crop 
which weighed 2714 ounces. 
A grower of house tomatoes gives me a description 
of his method of marketing: ‘In shipping I use small 
packages. The flat-bottomed splint basket, holding about 
8 qts., with handle, is excellent, and can be bought for 
$6 or less per gross. They hold to Ibs. each. In 
packing, line the basket with at least two thicknesses of 
medium-weight wrapping paper, turning down the cor- 
ners even with the top of the basket, or have it cut to 
exactly fit. Newspapers can be used, but are not so 
neat. Two inches of excelsior shavings is placed in the 
basket after being lined with the paper. The tomatoes 
are wrapped singly in tissue paper, cut by manufacturers 
in convenient sizes, two sizes being sufficient. Two lay- 
ers Of tomatoes are packed in each basket, with a layer 
of excelsior between each layer and on top of the upper 
layer. I have found these baskets to hold just to Ibs. 
of tomatoes without undue crowding or rubbing the side 
of the basket. The grower’s name and net weight of 
tomatoes should be placed, by means of a neat label, 
inside of the basket, and the basket wrapped in paper, 
all tied securely and neatly, with label on outside for 
shipping direction, to include consignor’s name, and 
grade and weight of package. The tomatoes should be 
sorted into at least three grades—firsts or choice, sec- 
onds, and culls.’’ 
Animal parasites.— A white scale (Aleyrodes vapor- 
* Canadian Horticulturist, xix. 260 (August, 1896.) 
