PACKING, MARKING, SHIPPING, ETC. 441 



all thrown together promiscuously, they cannot fail to 

 decay speedily and to lose their flavor ; for two or three 

 decaying apples in a heap or barrel will taint the flavor 

 of all, and hasten the decay of those around them. This 

 arrangement into grades and classes is, therefore, absolutely 

 necessary even for the fruits needed for family use; and 

 when they are so arranged, the sound, long-keepers are put 

 into clean, new barrels, carefully, by hand, and the barrels 

 headed up tightly and placed in a cool, dry cellar or fruit- 

 room. The bruised ones can be laid in a place by them- 

 selves for immediate use. Every barrel, when packed, 

 should be marked. 



Winter Pears, as a general thing, require to be brought 

 into a warm temperature one or two weeks before they 

 are wanted for table use. All the baking and stewing, 

 and even many of the table varieties, may be treated ex- 

 actly like appples. 



PACKING, MARKING, SHIPPING, ETC. 



In all that relates to the labor of preparing fruits for 

 market, great care is requisite, and we cannot do bet- 

 ter than to copy the following very concise and practical 

 directions prepared by a large and experienced shipping- 

 house from long observance of the requisites needed for 

 success : 



" Packing. In packing Apples, Pears, Berries, etc., do 

 not face your fruit more than it will bear, for if a buyer is 

 once deceived in buying a mark of fruit, he will discount 

 the mark in buying again, or refuse to buy it at all ; while if 

 it runs uniform, and gives satisfaction, it is eagerly sought 

 after, and the seller can get increased price by the compe- 

 tition. Also bear in mind that good fruit, etc., well put 

 up and reaching here in good order, always sells, even 

 when the market is glutted ; while fruit, etc., poorly put 



