PACKING AND MARKETING FRUITS 21 



required, but nothing very elaborate or expensive. 

 The apple barrels made up in this way cost all the 

 way from fifteen to thirty-five cents each, depending 

 very largely, of course, on the original cost of the 

 stock. During the last two years stock has been 

 very scarce and high, owing, it is said, to the opera- 

 tion of a barrel trust. At present the production of 

 barrel stock seems to be catching up with the de- 

 mand, and the tendency is toward easier prices. 



In many places it is customary to use second- 

 hand barrels for packing apples. The common flour 

 barrels are the ones usually impressed into this ser- 

 vice. A common flour barrel has the same capacity 

 and dimensions as the standard apple barrel, and 

 answers the purpose fairly well. However, a second- 

 hand barrel can never be made to look as good as 

 new. In many cases dirty barrels are bought and 

 are used without Droper cleaning. In such cases 

 they detract greatly from the appearance of the 

 fruit, and the commission man knocks off on the 

 price accordingly. The apple grower who has a con- 

 siderable crop to handle cannot afford to bother 

 with flour barrels. He should by all means use 

 fresh-made apple barrels. 



Apple "Boxes 



During recent years there has been a good deal of 

 discussion as to the merits of the apple box. Many 

 growers believe that there is a future for apples 

 packed in this way. While the use of the box has 

 been strenuously objected to in some quarters, espe- 

 cially by the commission men and fruit dealers, it 

 has not always be-en clear that their advice was dis- 

 interested. In fact, it is common knowledge that in 

 some cases they have bought apples in barrels and 

 repacked them in boxes, making quite a profit for 

 themselves thereby. The writer feels justified in 



