84 PRESENT-DAY GARDENING 



the growing of the fruit is but one part of the business, and 

 the more difficult question of selling it to the best advantage 

 must be met and overcome. In regard to cultivation, it 

 must be remembered that a bushel of bad fruit costs more 

 to pick, and as much to market, as an equal quantity of 

 first-class fruits. Packing in branded boxes will enable a 

 reputation to be built up and secure a new opening for 

 sale, namely, that of the wholesale grocers, who will be 

 only too glad to buy English fruit if it is packed in a 

 manner that they can handle it. The packing must be 

 attractive and the fruit uniform in quality and size ; the 

 grower who fulfils these conditions should, in a few years, 

 be able to deal direct with the wholesale grocers, thus 

 saving the intermediate profits which now press so hardly 

 upon him. 



Choice Dessert Apples may be placed 12 in a box, 

 nested in wood wool so that they do not touch each other. 

 Smaller sizes may be arranged 18 to 24 in a box, and 

 choice Pears in the same manner. Several boxes can be 

 tied together to travel as one parcel. After the fruits are 

 placed in the boxes, cover them with thin, soft paper, and 

 over this place some wood wool so that the fruits will be 

 kept firm. The best white wood wool only should be used. 



The author was much interested recently in an in- 

 stitution called the Hereford Co-operative Fruit Grading 

 Company, Limited. This concern has been in operation 

 for two years, and is increasing in favour with growers. 

 All fruit is sold by weight, and is well packed and branded 

 Ai, or quality 1-2-3. This work is done by women, and 

 the cost appears to be about 35. per cwt. to the growers, who 

 are subscribers of 53. a year, and are bound to send in all 



