PACKING AND SHIPPING FRUIT. 



as it should be one man can plant about 

 500 per day. 



The raising of their own plants, as 

 before described, has been practised by 

 the South Park Commissioners for the 

 past years and over 400,000 trees and 

 shrubs, all grown in this way, are now 

 planted in different parts of tha park 



and all in fine condition. There are 

 also 150,000 cuttings, which were made 

 last winter, growing in the nursery at 

 the present time which will be ready for 

 next spring's planting. 



A paper read at the recent meeting of the 

 Park and Outdoor Association, at Minne- 

 apolis. 



PACKING AND SHIPPING FRUIT. 



^ P^HE business of raising fruit and 

 vegetables for commercial pur- 

 poses seems to be constantly 

 changing in some particulars, 

 and the field of operations widening. 

 Increased transportation facilities, lower 

 freight rates, and varying competition 

 necessitates adopting the most approved 

 methods in everything pertainmg to the 

 business, to secure profitable results. 

 The fittest will survive is the inevitable 

 law, or in other words there is going to 

 be less room for poor and inferior goods, 

 whether fruit or vegetables, and no show 

 at all for those who pack their goods 

 deceitfully, or what is nearly as dis- 

 astrous, in any but prime condition, 

 proper shape and in good containers. 

 A marked example of successful pack- 

 ing is shown by the Californian fruit 

 growers. They had to excel in every 

 respect, and the goods must be the most 

 attractive offered in order to command 

 a sufficient price to pay them any profit 

 over the high freight rates to eastern 

 markets. When growers and producers 

 of more favored states display the same 

 skill and conscientious pains to excel in 

 their special field, they will secure some- 

 thing like the returns which the busi- 

 ness intelligently pursued is capable of 

 yielding. To remain in the business 

 and make it pay, you must follow as 

 closely as possible the example of men 

 who get good prices for their products. 



If you cannot raise fruit that is so at- 

 tractive in appearance, you can still ex- 

 ercise the same care in picking, packing 

 and marketing the fruit you have. You 

 can throw out for consumption nearer 

 home every specimen that is faulty and 

 inferior, especially when this poor stuff 

 injures the sale and reduces the price of 

 the best. You can at least use the 

 neatest and most presentable packages. 

 Mark your packages fully. Probably 

 no one thing works so much difficulty 

 in the handling of goods on commis- 

 sion as the failure on the part of the 

 shipper to have all his packages fully 

 marked. It is scarcely more important 

 to mark each case or barrel with the 

 name of the firm to whom shipped than 

 to mark from whom. Don't be afraid 

 to mark your own name and address on 

 your goods, and above all don't leave 

 the consignee in any uncertainty be- 

 cause you know he may be large enough 

 to have a shipment in the same line 

 from another grower the same day. 

 Many commission merchants are willing 

 and anxious to furnish shippers with ser- 

 viceable stencils, giving the commission 

 merchant's name and address plainly, 

 and providing simply a number imme- 

 diately under their name which indicates 

 to them that the goods are from you, 

 each tag thus sent out being recorded 

 with the shipper's respective names and 

 addresses. Notify the firm to whom 



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