STATE POMOLOGICAL SOCIETY. 33 



they have constituted a large portion of the crop where spraying 

 has not been practiced. Large and small fruit have been mixed 

 indifferently throughout the barrel and grading has been an 

 unknown quantity. In order to pack apples properly, whether 

 in boxes or barrels, careful grading must be practiced. Not 

 only does this mean that all the wormy, bruised and imperfect 

 fruit must be culled out, but it also means that the perfect fruit 

 must be graded, as to size and color, so that when the pack 

 is completed the apples will be uniform throughout. 



Often the grower says that his other work does not allow 

 him time to be so fussy with his apples, or that he can get 

 just as much for them from the buyer and doesn't have to 

 worry over disposing of the culls. This may be partially true, 

 but if a man is in the apple business to stay, he must establish 

 a reputation for honest work ; if he is not in to stay, the fruit 

 business would be much better off without him. Successful 

 fruit growing is not, and never can be, a side issue to some 

 other branch, for it demands careful and constant study and 

 intelligent application of principles. 



In the West the Llnions send out their own packers headed 

 by a foreman whose duty it is to see that the fruit is properly 

 graded as it comes to the packing table. No grower is per- 

 mitted to pack his own fruit, and it is to this precaution that 

 the high prices for western fruit are partially due. 



In connection with grading, I think that all choice and fancy 

 apples should be wiped before they are packed. Where the 

 spray adheres to the fruit, it presents an unattractive appearance 

 and cheapens it in the eye of the consumer. If the fruit is 

 bright and attractive, more people are influenced to purchase, 

 with the result that there is an increased consum.ption, and, 

 consequently, an increased demand. 



Demand is what we are looking for and we will never be 

 able to increase that rapidly by putting poorly colored, poorly 

 graded and poorly packed fruit on the market. 



Although the barrel has been used exclusively in marketing 

 our apples up to the last few years, yet now the box is becom- 

 ing more and more popular for the fancy grades of some of 

 our varieties. The success of the box for the western grower is 

 clear, and it is because of this that growers are gradually giving 

 up the idea that the barrel is the only feasible package. 



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