TWENTIETH ANNUAL MEETING. 191 



Barrel Packing. T wish to mention briefly one other 

 matter which it seems to me is exceedingly important at this 

 time, and that is, a better pack for our barreled apples. The 

 time has come, I believe, when we should grade our barreled 

 fruit in reference to sizes. In fact, such will be necessary 

 if we compete with our southern neighbors, who, though they 

 still use the barrel, put up an exceedingly attractive package. 



Our present practice is, considering size only, to class 

 all specimens above two and one-half inches in diameter as 

 No. I's, putting all different sizes in the barrel together. Thus 

 we have in -the same barrel apples varying in size from two 

 inches to the largest — a medley of sizes — which look exceed- 

 ingly unattractive, to say the least. With but little additional 

 labor we could separate our different sizes, putting the small 

 apples together, the medium size apples together, etc., and 

 then carefully pack these different sizes separately in barrels. 

 Certainly this would improve the appearance of our fruit 

 immensely, and we would realize enough more for it to pay 

 for the additional cost several times over. 



The proposed LaFean bill provides for this sizing. It 

 seems to me that this bill is a big step in advance, and even 

 though the eastern and western grower may have minor dif- 

 ferences, such minor differences should be set aside and the 

 more important features agreed upon and pushed. Whether 

 or not this legislation be enacted, we New England growlers 

 can improve our barrel packs by thus grading into sizes, and 

 then with a little more careful heading and handling, we can 

 place a much more superior article on the market. 



In conclusion, permit me to point out the important points 

 which I wish you to remember. First, the varieties of our 

 fruit which you may pack in the box ; second, what a good 

 box pack is and how to pack it, and above all things, for the 

 reputation of eastern fruit, let us begin the box pack right : 

 third, the grading of our barreled apples according to size, 

 which appears to me to be an exceedingly important question 



