HORTICULTURE 137 



and the various grades which belong to any grower are kept account 

 of and duly recorded. In this way the price for each box of fruit 

 in any car is easily determined. 



But where there is a very large amount of fruit to be handled 

 it is impossible for the association to do the packing, consequently 

 the growers assume this work. With this arrangement, the associa- 

 tion employs an inspector, whose duty it is to inspect each load as it 

 is delivered. This he does by opening the boxes on the side, in the 

 case of apples, when a good estimate of the contents may be made. 

 If the pack is satisfactory, not more than two boxes may be opened. 

 If unsatisfactory, several may be examined, and if all run under the 

 inspector's standard, the entire load must either be placed in a lower 

 grade or else be repacked. 



It will be seen that a great deal depends on the inspector, and 

 that it is a difficult position to fill. Upon him depends the reputation 

 of the association, so he must be entirely free to do the work as he 

 sees fit. Each man's fruit is kept track of by numbers, as in the 

 former case. 



Most of the associations have now adopted the latter system, 

 although nearly all have tried the former. The ideal method is, no 

 doubt, to have all packing done at a central building, but a limit to 

 the amount of fruit which can be handled is soon reached. It is 

 found difficult in practice to keep track of a large number of pack- 

 ers at a central point, and careless work is the result. But when 

 each grower looks after his own packing, he has a wholesome respect 

 for the decision of the inspector. It is very expensive to repack a lot 

 of fruit, and if he is obliged to do this, or else let it be sold as a lower 

 grade, even on a single load, it usually results in greater pains being 

 taken in the future. But with the best of systems, poorly packed 

 fruit will occasionally find, its way to market. 



The association charges a commission on all sales, usually five 

 per cent, to defray expenses. Then, in case the packing is done by 

 the association, an additional charge is made to cover the cost of 

 the box and packing. Any surplus is, of course, distributed as pre^ 

 miums. Any fruit grower may become a member of the association 

 so long as there is stock for sale, and the ov, T ner of one share is en- 

 titled to all of its privileges. The number of shares one individual 

 may own is limited. 



The growers are generally asked and, in many instances, re- 

 quired to furnish an estimate of their crop. In the smaller associa- 

 tions, the manager sometimes .secures this information by visiting 

 the orchard in person. This estimate is made early in the fall, or 

 not until damage by worms and other causes is practically over and 

 the crop is secure. With this knowledge in hand, the manager can 

 enter into contracts for delivering certain amounts of various varie- 

 ties or grades. 



The system of selling has been radically changed within the 

 past few years. Formerly practically all of the fruit was consigned 

 to commission men, who, as a class, it may be truthfully said, are 

 inclined to do the best they can by their constituents. But too often 



