602 EEPORT OF THE COMMISSIONER OF AGRICULTURE. 



truck farmer operating on an extensive scale to attempt protecting 

 them from frosts subsequently. He should, however, never fail to 

 hold a sufficiency of good plants in reserve to supx)ly any losses or to 

 reset the whole crop if necessary. 



It is advisable that the track farmer should make a study of the 

 l>henomena of atmospheric changes, particularly at a distance irom 

 cities, to guide him in the management of his hot-beds and in the putting 

 oat of his plants judiciously. The recent regulation of the United 

 ytates Signal Service ordering the hoisting of a cold-wave flag at the 

 station upon an expected decrease of temperature will be of great serv- 

 ice to truclv farmers near the cities. In this latitude upon the Atlantic 

 coast a rapid ftill of temperature may be expected in winter and eoily 

 spring when, after a warm rain, the weather clears with the wind from 

 the northwest. A clear streak in the northwestern sky near the horizon 

 indicates the coming change. The fall of temperature under such cir- 

 cumstances is sometimes very great. Thus, after a warm rain at 1 p. m., 

 April 3, 1879, the thermometer stood here (Wilmington Island) at 75°, 

 but it fell during the night ensuing 30°, giving us a killing frost on the 

 morning of the dth wit^ the mercury at 39°. 



PACKING AND MARIOETINa, 



If fruit and vegetables, although somewhat inferior in quality, are 

 put up for shipment in clean, bright, and carefully constructed packages, 

 l)resenting to the buyer an attractive appearance, they are very apt to 

 command better prices in the Northern markets than abetter quality in 

 less inviting packages. Prime quality, then, together with a bright 

 presentation of packages will be certain, under odier favorable circum- 

 stances, to secure the most gratifying returns. In proof of the im- 

 portance of neatness and quality I may mention the fact that during 

 the month of July, when tomatoes have long been in season from Florida, 

 Georgia, and from Norfolk, together depressing and nearly glutting the 

 markets, so-called one-third bushel crates (capacity in the clear 820 

 cubic inches, dimensions of heads 5 by 8, laths 22 inches) from Chicago 

 have sold in the Northern markets at $1.25, while Norfolk bushel crates 

 were quoted at from 50 cents to $1 per crate. The difference" is the more 

 striking when it is remembered that Chicago is more than twice the 

 distance fpom the places of sale than Norfolk. The better price is, there- 

 fore, not attributable to fresher condition, but solely to selection and 

 careful packing in regular layers, and to the use of bright, small pack- 

 ages. The careful truck farmer, desiring his mark to be favorably 

 known in market so as to insure a sale of his produce in preference to 

 that of his less painstaking competitor, should be careful, therefore, 

 to put up none of inferior quality or unsoundness. The very slightest 

 speck is frequently an evidence of commencing decay or ovorrij)eiies.s, 

 and should condemn the fruit or vegetable. A barely perceptible taint 

 to the packer at home will probably, three or four days later, becojne an 

 odious blemish to the purchaser. A single rotting vegetable may infect 

 others and reduce or i-uin the value of the whole package- 



If vegetables of second quality, referring to size and not to sound- 

 ness, are supposed to bo worth more iii market than at home, then the 

 "culls" or " seconds" should by all means be shipped in separate pack- 

 ages. If packed together the inferior will detract from the market 

 value of the first grade. 



The matter next in importance is so to fill the crate or barrel that it 

 may arrive in presence of the buyer as near full as the shrinkage of the 



