TWENTIETH ANNUAL MEETING. 185 



something definite to carry away vvith you this afternoon, 

 instead of what I might merely say, I have had prepared and 

 passed around a Httle folder. I think this folder will give yon 

 in a nutshell the information which \ou want in case you were 

 going to pack apples in a box, and I will refer to that as I talk. 



There are one or two changes I want to make. I have 

 changed my mind since I made that out. and I want to make 

 a few corrections. 



In the first place, I want to make a distinction between a 

 well-packed box of apples and a poorly packed box of apples, 

 because I want you men here in Connecticut, if you start this 

 box package, and I hope tliat some of you will, as a matter of 

 fact, I know you will, — I want to see you start right. It cer- 

 tainly means a lot for the reputation of your fruit. Let me see 

 if I can explain what I mean. 



Here is a well-packed box of apples, every apple fairly 

 uniform in size and color, neatly wrapped, every apple placed 

 systematically and regularly in a layer, and snugly, so there is 

 no moving, one layer placed snugly and neatly on top of the 

 other, at the top a proper bulge, and then the top of the box 

 nailed on neatly, I think you will all agree that a box packed 

 like that is an attractive box. 



Now as to the practical operation of 



Apple Packing. 



The packing of apples is an exceedingly important ques- 

 tion at the present time. We Xew York and New England 

 growers are 'beginning to realize that the time has come to im- 

 prove, if not wholly reconstruct, our methods of packing. The 

 success of the box package in the West has been brought forci- 

 bly to our attention. Some of us, perhaps most of us, believe 

 that the western box is the best package for some of our va- 

 rieties, and a few of our growers have tried boxing some of 

 their fancy fruit. Probably more would have tried the box 

 had they known wliat pack to use and how t(* make it, where 

 to get the boxes and the press. The difficulty was that we 

 knew hardly what to do or how to do it. The purpose of my 



