94 STATE POMOLOGICAL SOCIETY. 



will do well to raise only such quantities of fall fruit as can readily 

 be disposed of in the home markets. 



As you can readily understand the barrels have a great deal of 

 handling while in transit from the farm to the English market and 

 it is absolutely necessary to have barrels of sufficient strength to 

 carry the fruit in good shape. 



As it is an advantage to have clean, neat looking packages new 

 barrels are best if made sufficiently strong. It is, however, better 

 to use flour barrels than new ones which are not equally as strong 

 as a flour barrel. In this case great care should be used to have 

 the barrels properly cleaned out and also to erase any old marks 

 from the head so that when the barrel is put up it may look as neat 

 and clean as possible. 



All fruit sold in Liverpool is sold from the wharf or quay and not 

 put into store. Samples are drawn from each lot and taken to the 

 sale room where some of the barrels are turned out in the presence 

 of the buyers at time of sale, and the buyers thus have every oppor- 

 tunity of properly appraising the fruit. 



With respect to brands, some brands have a preference with the 

 English buyers. The explanation of this is that the shippers of the 

 brands referred to always take care to ship only No, 1 fruit under 

 what may be termed their standard brand. For their shipments of 

 second quality they use a ditferent mark altogether. The brand of 

 the first quality apples thus gets a better name than would be the 

 case if the same brand were used for the best and inferior fruit. 



The apples are sold at public auctions which are held three times 

 a week. There is a large attendance of buyers from all parts of the 

 country acd thus is assured the highest prices being attained that 

 the laws of supply and demand will permit of. 



In conclusion I may say, that, in my opinion, the prospects for 

 Maine apple growers are encouraging. The prices that have ruled 

 this season have had the effect of largely increasing the consumption 

 and tnis will have a good effect next season and the following years. 

 There is every indication that the taste of the English people for 

 fruit will increase every succeeding year. 



DISCUSSION. 



T. M. Merbill. Reference was made by Mr. Peake to the barrels 

 used for packing. I am satisfied with good, clean flour barrels, and 

 I believe they are preferable to the new barrels made in this State. 

 There is often much said against the buyer, and some try to make 



