380 BOARD OF AGRICULTURE. 



account for the attachment some of our horticulturists have for this pear. 

 This past season they have had difhculty in selling this pear, and they will 

 have more in the future. 



Question: Mr. Hale spolce of boxes for packing fruit. Would you have 

 a tiffht or a slat box? 



Mr. Hale: I would have a tight box for all fruit. If fruit is picked 

 cool and dry and put in tight paclvages it will keep better than if it is put 

 in ventilated packages. The tighter the package the better. We have 

 found by cold storage tests that fruit that has been picked cold and paper 

 wrapped and put in a tight package keeps longer than any other. I have 

 peaches in cold storage now that were picked in August, and I expect 

 to have them good at Christmas. They are paper wrapped and put in 

 tight packages. In time, good apples and other fruit will be paper 

 wrapped. 



Mr. Stevens: Would you not pick apples on wet days? 



Mr. Hale: Certainly, if I had to; but they must be dried before they 

 are packed. 



Mr. Burton: You spoke of a standard grade. Suppose our apples are 

 graded so that the smallest apple is two and one-half inches. No. 1 could 

 be from two and one-half inches up to four inches. Would you put these 

 various sizes in together? 



Mr. Hale: No, sir; I would size them just as we do oranges. By and 

 by apples will be sized so that when you want a carload of them from me 

 in Connecticut you can order so many boxes with a certain number in a 

 box. That is the way oranges are ordered. If I order a carload of oranges 

 from California I can say I want so many boxes of each special size and 

 I shall know .iust what I am getting, for they have a standard to go by. 



Mr. Burton: Then you would have to have a number for each variety 

 of apples? 



Mr. Hale: Certainly. If you sent to me for a carload of Baldwins- 

 Mr. Burton: I don't like Baldwins; I wouldn't have them. 



Mr. Hale: Well, get Greenings or some other good variety. You could 

 say how many you wanted in a box, and I would put them up for you. 



Mr. Burton: What kind of lumber would you use in the boxes? 



Mr. Hale: Any good white lumber. 



