No. 6. DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE. 629 



South Water Street, Chicago, is sufficient to emphasize this. The 

 Jersey tomato box makes trip after trip to New York. It is handled 

 and tumbled and broken and repaired until its appearance is more 

 that of a wreck than of a package. Such a policy costs cents for 

 every crate that is so shipped. If returnable boxes are used, as, for 

 instance, on local market where the grower drives in, they should be 

 substantially made, and should be kept painted. This reduces the 

 cost of the packages, aud aids greatly in keeping up the appearance 

 of both package and load. Kochester is the one large market with 

 which I am familiar where this is the regular practice. 



In the third place, the produce should be displayed to advantage. 

 The better it is presented, the better it sells and the higher the 

 price. The Western New York cauliflower box, which, when the 

 lid is removed, shows each snowy head surrounded by a border of 

 green, is a splendid example of this. It is far better advertisement 

 than the Long Island barrel. Handle packages attract buyers, and 

 sell the product in larger quantities than would otherwise be the 

 case. One who would ordinarily ask for two pounds or a quarter 

 peck will often purchase a whole basket. 



Fourth, it is ordinarily best to use a package that is standard 

 on the market to be served, provided it is a good package. If it is 

 not, try another. People soon recognize merit even in new array. 

 This array then becomes your distinctive mark, and helps sell your 

 goods. 



Fifth, the package should be easily handled and should not in- 

 vite abuse, as is true of the barrel. Crates and baskets are usually 

 handled with a good deal of care. 



Sixth, the first cost of the package should be carefully looked 

 into. If possible, use a cheap one and make it a gift package. It is 

 always fresh and bright and clean, and there is no trouble about its 

 return. The use of returnable packages is always accompanied by 

 a great deal of loss and annoyance. 



The seventh requirement is that the measure shall be exact when 

 the vessel is well filled. Few defects will turn away a buyer more 

 quickly than slack measure. 



Eighth, empties should be capable of compact storage. This 

 makes easy hauling, and a good supply can be secured early in the 

 season. In this connection, it should be suggested that it is never 

 good policy to leave packages in the open for any considerable length 

 of time. New wood loses its attractive whiteness within a very few 

 days, and the selling value of the package is thereby decreased. 



Finally, a high grade product must not be put in a package that 

 is ordinarily used for low grade stuff. Some of our best lettuce 

 growers are coming to use a box which carries two or three dozen 

 heads of the best grade. These men put their lower grades in the 

 ordinary bushel hamper. Producers of other sections use this same 

 bushel hamper for their first grade, and neither of them uses a dis- 

 tmctive mark. As a result, the one who is packing good lettuce in 

 the hampers is not getting the best results. 



Every year sees the work of grading cutting a larger figure in 

 the work of marketing than it did before. Grading was once un- 

 known. Today the producer of fruits and vegetables is following 

 close upon the trail of the manufacturer, who long ago realized the 

 necessity of uniformity. The citrus people took the lead in this. 



