STATE POMOLOGICAI, SOCIETY. 37 



however, we would find that one man had used the right pack, 

 the apples fitting closely ; that the other had either used the 

 wrong style of pack or had not used any care in packing, allow- 

 ing the fruit room to move about and bruise. This was more 

 often the case, too, when papers had not been used. After a 

 little experience the grower can tell at a glance which style ot 

 pack to use and will know whether or not layer paper will be 

 necessary in order to get the right height of ends. 



The question came up as to whether or not all varieties are 

 fit to pack in boxes. Personally, I do not favor the idea of try- 

 ing to pack some of our inferior quality varieties in boxes. The 

 Ben Davis, Gano, etc., seem to me better adapted to the barrel, 

 especially since they suffer comparatively little harm from hard 

 pressing, and are fit for long transportation. 



While it is the general impression that only large fruit is 

 produced in the West, I think you will find upon looking into 

 the case, that it is the medium sized fruit that is being chiefly 

 shipped. Apples that will pack less than 88 to the box are con- 

 sidered too large for commercial work and it is easy to see why. 

 Suppose we pack apples that run 41 to the box. That means 

 we will have to receive about ten cents retail apiece in order to 

 realize as much as w^e would on apples half as large at five cents 

 apiece. Now, the apples that are sold for ten cents apiece are 

 limited in number and the demand for such fruit is not increas- 

 ing very rapidly. On the other hand, if such fruit is sold at the 

 rate of five cents each that means only $2.00 per box with the 

 middleman's profit and the commission man's fee to be taken 

 from that. 



For this reason I believe that the extra large fruit must be 

 shipped in barrels in order to realize the greatest possible re- 

 turns. As it looks to me at the present time, the choice and 

 fancy fruit that is not too large should be shipped in boxes; 

 the poorer grades, inferior quality varieties and extra large 

 fruit should continue to be shipped in barrels ; and no matter 

 what package is used we should grade each apple honestly and 

 conscientiously. 



Mr. Powell: 1 want to ask one question, in reference to 

 wiping our eastern fruit. Of course that is the practice of the 

 West, and the question occurs to me wdiether taking the fruit 

 from our eastern orchards, it is going to be necessary to wipe 



