33 o THE FRUIT GROWER'S GUIDE. 



and the peaches placed in them closely together as they are wrapped. When the box 

 will hold no more, small pieces of wadding may be gently pushed in the corners of the 

 package and wherever there is room, so as to make all secure and prevent any movement 

 of the fruit. If they are packed in the way I have described, they should now be 

 firmly in the boxes with nothing around the upper half of the fruit, so that everyone 

 can see their size and colour when offered for sale. A sheet of tissue paper must next 

 be laid over them, 'and then one or two pieces of wadding, the same size as the box. 

 so as to fill up and prevent any movement when travelling. Packing peaches 

 requires great care, but pays for all the attention bestowed upon it. I have for several 

 years past packed from 4,000 to 6,000 annually in the above manner, and had no 

 complaints from anyone about damage, although some of it travelled 400 to 500 miles. 

 There is no system equal to it, although moss, dried grass, and other things are some- 

 times recommended. The table on which the packing is done should always have a 

 strip of wool on it to lay the fruit on. Peaches will keep several days if laid on some 

 dry and soft material in a cool and dry room." 



Peaches and nectarines for travelling short distances are sometimes packed in flat 

 punnets, holding half-a-dozen each, covered with tissue paper. Another slightly smaller 

 punnet filled with moss covered with tissue paper is inverted over the fruit, its head 

 resting on the moss lining of the packed punnet, and the two secured together with 

 string. The punnets are placed in boxes so that they cannot move, and when received 

 by the fruiterer he simply has to unpack the box, remove the inverted punnet, and 

 place the fruit in the shop window. 



Pears. Most of the early pears are of better quality if gathered before they are fully 

 ripe, and should not be left to colour on the trees. They must be gathered and packed 

 with great care. Every fruit thrown into the basket or falling on another not only 

 bruises itself, but also the one it drops on. Early pears are packed in half-sieve or sieve 

 baskets, lined with fruit paper, and are covered with paper, a little long grass, and this 

 secured with hazel sticks. Autumn pears should be gathered and sent to market similar 

 to summer pears. 



Late pears should be left as long as possible on the trees, as they ripen much better 

 if left to mature thoroughly Medium-sized baskets lined are the best for pears, placing 

 each in steadily, ,md when emptying the basket, guard against the slightest bruising of 

 the fruit. In gathering from standard trees a bag is frequently used ; but nothing could 

 be worse, as the fruits move about with every movement of the pickers and are bruised. 



