PACKING AND MARKETING FRUITS 49 



such as is used in Georgia peach carriers, is also 

 entirely satisfactory for shipping- plums. These three 

 packages last named may be conveniently crated in 

 the ordinary strawberry crate, and this makes a con- 

 venient and good package for shipment. Other 

 packages which have been used for plums are the 

 5 and 10-lb. Climax grape basket with stiff handles; 

 diamond splint basket in various sizes, and the Jer- 

 sey peach basket, especially in the 8, 12, and 16-qt. 

 sizes. For a nearby retail market for plums of ordi- 

 nary quality the writer prefers the 16-qt. Jersey 

 peach basket. For consignment to city markets, at 

 least in the eastern states, the best results are se- 

 cured with small packages, down to one quart, 

 packed in small crates. Packages holding one-half 

 bushel or less seem to find the most favor. 



Plums are seldom held in cold storage; but in any 

 case where a delay in marketing is desirable the ben- 

 efits of cold storage may be adopted. The length 

 of time which plums will keep in cold storage varies 

 greatly. If they are soft, over-ripe, and affected with 

 rot, it is hardly worth while to store them at all. On 

 the other hand, such varieties as Fell-enburg, Brad- 

 shaw, Grand Duke, etc., when in good condition, 

 would doubtless keep without serious deterioration 

 from one to two months in good storage. 



We have never known of plums being shipped in 

 carlots to distant markets. We have seen Mr. Hale, 

 however, sending partial carloads in the same car 

 with peaches from his Georgia orchard to New York. 

 In such cases plums should be given the benefits of 

 the refrigerator car service, just as peaches are. 



Quinces 



Quinces should not be picked until they are ripe 

 and well colored. This direction seems so obvious 

 that one would hardly believe how often it is disre- 



