64 STATE POMOLOGICAL SOCIETY. 



would be advisable for farmers to construct them for that 

 country. The suggestion I want to make is this, that in case any 

 one desires to do it, you write to the University of Illinois at 

 Urbana, and ask them for their bulletin describing the cold stor- 

 age house. They will send you that bulletin without any charge. 

 It gives all the plans, specifications and drawings, with cost of 

 lumber and other things, in the construction of this house. 

 There are several things in that house different from any other 

 house that I have seen. They were able to hold it for eight 

 months in succession at a temperature of 33 to 34 degrees. 



FRUIT PACKAGES. 

 By D. H. KxowLTox. 



One of the important questions which arise in connection 

 with our great fruit crop, not only this year but in years to come, 

 is — What shall we pack the apples in? A few years ago when 

 any one said anything about boxes he was almost hooted, 

 because nearly ever}- one said the ideal package for apples was 

 the barrel. I have always believed in the box or basket or any- 

 thing else for a package that would enable us to sell our fruit. 

 A great many times I am asked what is the best package, and I 

 almost invariably tell people, any package that will enable you to 

 sell your fruit to the best advantage. A gentleman at Farming- 

 ton who is interested in growing fruit has asked me repeatedly, 

 "Why don't your society determine what is the best size for a 

 box?" Well, now. I don't know what it is. I don't think any- 

 body does. Perhaps we may never find out. But this is true and 

 is going to be verified in the years to come, that the man who 

 packs his apples in a box or basket, or anything else, that people 

 like and fancy, his apples are going to sell. And that is just the 

 secret of this whole thing. You cannot make a law that will 

 determine it or anything of the kind. 



The difficulty of obtaining barrels this year seems to be the 

 turning point with man}- and we find many are now favoring the 

 box. There has been a great change in sentiment and the ques- 

 tion comes, W^hat kind of a box? Well, there are several kinds 

 of boxes being used. Some like one kind, some like another. 



