404 BOARD OF AGRICULTUKE. 



interest. I say this from an experience of thirteen years in the business 

 of handling fruit. This Society should put itself on record for a uniform 

 pacliage, and then go to the Legislature and ask for a law. The manu- 

 facturers of berry boxes all over the country have been catering to the 

 trade that handles snide packages. I handled goods here before there was 

 a berry box in the country. In those days we used the old two bushel 

 stand with a half bushel in a drawer. They began to shave those 

 toward the last. Finally, they were abandoned, and then came the 

 berry crate, the handiest and best way we can handle them. Michigan 

 took hold of this matter, and they have a uniform package law for the 

 sale of their goods. The State of Indiana has been lax in this i-espect. 

 As this Society represents the fruit interests of the State of Indiana, 

 you will have to answer the question on the program in the afiimative, 

 and try to have the Legislature pass a bill compelling all the people who 

 are making packages to have a standard or uniform size. Then when 

 you place yoiu- fruit before the public they will know they are getting 

 what they pay for and are not deceived. I believe this is a very im- 

 portant matter. 



Question: Do you recommend a three-bushel bari'el? 



Mr. Williams: No; the Michigan barrel is what is called a flour 

 barrel, and it only holds two bushels and three pecks; but the way fruit 

 growers press and pack them they hold three bushels. 



There is usually a good deal of discussion on the subject of keeping 

 apples. I heard, during the discussion here, some things that were said 

 against the Ben Davis. I have a number of Ben Davis apple ti-ees in 

 my yard. Last year I tried a new plan for keeping them. I put them in 

 the yard and covered them vdth leaves. We kept the leaves over them 

 until after the first of January. The apples froze solid. I did not have 

 any rotten or bad apples of any kind among them, and they were crisp 

 and nice and fresh until they were all used up. There are very few 

 apples that will stain or color when they are frozen. The Rhode Island 

 Greening will. The Red Baldwin will not. Your apples will usually 

 come out nice and fresh if treated in this way. 



Returning to the subject of packing and styles of packages. I think 

 early apples should be packed in packages holding about a peck. For 

 later apples a package less than a barrel is not necessary. Barrels 

 are easily handled, but in the summer time people will want a smaller 

 package. Fall apples can not be carried long without spoiling. Baskets 

 now are coming into use much more than boxes. We used to handle 

 them in one-third bushel boxes. Apples and peaches from Southern In- 

 diana formerly came in this package. Michigan has introduced the bas- 

 kets, largely, and they are getting to make them in snide sizes. I think 

 this should be regulated, and if you attempt to have a bill drafted, have 



