STATE POMOLOGICAL SOCIETY. 35 



size and variety are the same. In competition for prizes at the 

 fruit shows, there is nothing tliat will be scored harder than 

 green fruit in the bottom of the box. 



Again, to obtain a good pack with the right bulge, all the 

 fruit in the box should be tlic same size. The impression that 

 larger apples have to be put in the centre of the box is wrong, 

 for if the right pack is selected the natural crowding in of the 

 fruit to the centre will cause it to spring sufficiently for a me- 

 dium bulge of 3-4 in. to either face. 



When the consumer demands a fancy apple, the smaller pack- 

 age is desirable. It takes up a much smaller amount of space, 

 is easier to handle and more attractive. In many cases the 

 fruit is not consumed rapidly enough to prevent a part of a 

 barrel from spoiling and there is less loss of fruit in the small 

 package. 



Again, when a box of fruit is purchased the exact number of 

 apples is printed on the outside, so that the price of each apple 

 can be readily estimated. 



There is less chance for spread of decay if an apple is bruised 

 during shipment, as the papers protect the remainder. 



The box must be used for the fancy trade, where the fruit 

 will return a good price. In this way the grower can build up 

 a reputation with the consumer who is willing to pay for what 

 he gets providing it is A No. i. A few years ago apples at 

 ten cents apiece were unheard of and no one would have been 

 willing to pay such a price for a single fruit. Gradually, how^- 

 ever, the standard has been raised and .the consumer educated 

 to the fancy stock. By making the fruit more attractive, the 

 consumption has been ir.creased, insuring a greater and more 

 even demand, with the result that the price has doubled and 

 trebled. 



Now, let us return to some of the mistakes that have been 

 made in trying out the box and barrel in practical tests. Take 

 poorly graded fruit for example. Suppose we take a certain 

 number of boxes — say fifteen — and barrels to correspond in 

 cjuantity of fruit, — five. These apples are of the same grade 

 and will sell for say ic each at the retailers. If it is medium 

 sized Baldwins, for instance, that will mean $1.00 to $1.25 per 

 box for the retail price. When the middleman's profit and the 



