TTie Canadian Horticulturi^ 



Vol. XXXV 



SEPTEMBHR, 191^ 



No. 



Standardizing Canadian Fruit Packages 



Alex. McNeill, Chief, Dominion Fruit Division, Ottawa, Ont. 



^*1 



SO long as Canadian fruit growers 

 confintd themselves to supplying 

 the local markets only, the ques- 

 tion of uniformity of packages did not 

 count particularly. Of late years, long 

 distance markets 

 have become more 

 and more impor- 

 tant and it is not 

 too much to say 

 that in a short time 

 the long distance 

 market will domin- 

 ate the fruit trade. 

 Under these cir- 

 cumstances the pre- 

 sent is a favorable 

 time to secure uni- 

 formity in packages 

 throughout the 

 Dominion. The 



importance of this 

 Alex. McNeill feature is realized. 



Among the many reasons for having 

 uniform packages none, perhaps, is more 

 important than the question of economy 

 in manufacture. Where the manufac- 



turers know that all packages must con- 

 form to certain dimensions they can cut 

 their material and they can calculate 

 with reference to it much more readily 

 and with far greater saving than where 

 the matter of size is left to the whim of 

 everyone who wishes to give an order. 

 Manufacturers are intensely interested 

 in uniform packages. 



If packages are standardized many 

 things can be done by machinery that 

 otherwise would have to be done by 

 hand. They can use up large quantities 

 of material that might otherwise go to 

 waste and they can give prices with 

 confidence where the matter of dimen- 

 sions is permanently established. The 

 honest fruit grovt'er has everything to 

 gain through the standardization of 

 packages. He wishes only to secure 

 what is coming to him and is willing and 

 anxious to give full measure. He does 

 not want, however, to use packages five, 

 ten or twenty per cent, larger than his 

 neighbor uses. He is, therefore, often 

 in a quandary to know just what pack- 

 age he may honestly use. Fortunately 



in Canada we have already standardized 

 certain packages with' very satisfactory 

 results. Nevertheless, much remains to 

 be done. 



STANDARD PAOKAGES 

 The apple barrel is standardized as to 

 its minimum size, and this size applies 

 to pears and quinces as well. The box 

 is standardized for capacity for the home 

 market as well as for the export mar- 

 ket. The fruit basket is defined in four 

 sizes, fifteen quarts or more, eleven 

 quarts, six quarts, and two and two- 

 fifths quarts. Dimensions are prescribed 

 for the eleven and the six quart bas- 

 kets. So far as these packages are con- 

 cerned, it may be said with perfect truth 

 that they are giving good satisfaction. 

 However, if the Inspection and Sale .Act 

 is to be amended certain improvements 

 probably will be made in all packages. 

 For instance, in the case of the barrel 

 it has been suggested that two sizes be 

 prescribed, one corresponding to our 

 minimum size and the other to the size 

 usee! more frequently in Ontario. It is, 

 I think, the general impression that to 



I 



Packing Applet in the Farmer*' Exchange, Kelowra, B.C. 



i!05 Photo copyriglit by G. H. E. HucUon, Kelowiin. B.C. 



