The Canadian Horticulturist. 



347 



FRUIT PACKING AND GRADING. 



RUIT and garden producers are much in need of a general 

 system for grading. We must have legislation and 

 CO operation as well as the enforcement of such laws 

 enacted by our legislature. To-day, we have men 

 authorized to inspect flour, coal, oil, whiskies, etc., 

 placing their official mark on each article inspected. 

 These are bought and sold by the grade as marked 

 upon each case. Fruit is used extensively every day in every State of our 

 Union, and yet no system of grading or inspection is in force. 



Grading fruit is not simply separating the better from the inferior ; there 

 is another grading which is pre-eminent, uniform measure. Our old standard 

 measures of a half bushel and peck have become so old-fashioned they are a 

 mere figure-head with many fruit dealers. The per cent, of fruit and vegetables 

 thus measured is exceedingly small. Barrels, crates, baskets, berry boxes, etc., 

 are now used to carry fruit and ship to distant markets. No fault is to be 

 found with the box, barrel, or crate, but in the matter of sizes specified regula- 

 tions should be adopted. I have found baskets holding 5-8, 1-2 and 7-16 bush. 

 Each of these sizes is a basket of the original intention. Probably no wrong 

 was intended, but the matter of sizes has opened the doors wide for the 

 perpetration of fraud. The inexperienced, thinking a basket means a half 

 bushel, offer their produce at so much per basket. The buyer brings out his 

 5-8 bushel basket and wants it filled round full. The farmer figures 20 bushels 

 will fill 40 half bushel baskets, but when he counts the baskets only 32 are 

 found. A dispute at once arises, but being sold and bought by the basket, 

 the producer takes his pay and departs. The dealer fills his 7-16 bushel or 

 14 quart basket and then has 45 5-3 baskets. The dealer paid for 32 but now 

 sells 45 5-7, gaining 13 5-7 baskets on the 20 bushel. Frequently such 

 dealers are the loudest complainers. 



We need wise legislation and the co-operation of good, honest merchants, 

 backed by every horticultural association in the country, against tricksters of this 

 kind. Barrels, crates, baskets, boxes, etc., should be of established sizes and 

 so easily distinguishable that every buyer and seller knows what he buys and 

 sells. The size of pint and quart berry boxes sometimes returned in crates is 

 often surprising. Every manufacturer has his own notion about the size, or 

 else in his calculation must figure on liquid measure. Crates have never been 

 returned to me with boxes of different makes of the same size. 



Careful picking, careful handling, scrupulously clean baskets and boxes, 

 free from last year's mold and stains, add largely to quick sales and better 

 prices. Often one poor over-ripe berry prevents the sale of the box, one 

 inferior peach lessens the value of the whole basket ; one bruised, brown 



