-4- 



Stockbridge Students. Tiake Mar.Jcet Trip 



One of the most valuable features of the course in Mairketing given by 

 the Pomology Department is the annual trip to Boston. This is a 2-rday trip 

 with the first day devoted to visiting packing houses and farm storages in order 

 that the students may observe how fjruit is prepared for market. The second day 

 is spent visiting the various marketing agencies in Bostwi observing how fruit 

 is sold. The group taking the trip this year consisted of 1 graduate student, 

 5 Stockbridge seniors specializing in Fruit Growing,. 8 Stockbridge seniors 

 specializing in Foods and Food Processing, and the Instructor. Space does not 

 permit a complete discussion of all the places visited and the many interesting 

 things that we saw, so I shall merely attempt to mention a few of the outstand- 

 ing features of the trip. 



At the Regional Produce Market in West Cambridge the Auction had closed 

 just before we arrived, but we were told that the auction method of sale appeared 

 to be gaining in favor and that one grower as far away as Hampden County used 

 this market regularly. It, was, pointed out that this grower ''S upples sold at the 

 top of the market or better because they were good apples, honestly packed, and 

 this fact had gained the confidence of the buyers so that his appl&s v/ero always 

 in demand. 



A few observations made while visiting the mt^ksts in Boston were: 

 (1) The effort being made to grade and pack all types of produce so that it 

 _will be most attractive.. Mo^st of the packs of apples that we saw compared very 

 favorably with other lines of produce.. (2) Several lots of upples, especially 

 on the Fanners'- Market, had so many blemishes that they reflected no credit on 

 the fniit growing, industry. The contrast between these and the better grades, 

 ..ceartlj" packed, was very apparent. (3) A brand name on a package,, pi^-s.vided the 

 appHjs are carefully graded, is an asset in making sales. Our- attention was 

 called to onA lot in particular where this had proven to be true. (4) A state- 

 ment mads by the chef at the Parker House is particularly worthy of note. While 

 ._ being. &hown through the kitchen and store roo^as we noticed a box of Cortland 

 -Appids. We askedr'tive chef how he liked Cortland. He replied, "It is the best 

 apple for l>fik in g that I have ever come across." (5) Apple ice ore.am seems to 

 be. popular. Wo found it being served at Durgin-^Park's and at the Parker House. 

 It is really good. (6) The type of package and method of pa,cking appeared to 

 be 'tar lass impi^rtant than the quality of the fnait in the package. 



0. C< Ro^Ji^rts 



Items f roy Here and There 



"" New Slant on a S'torage Problem . In a recent number of the Journal of Pomology 

 ^-^Jad Hort. Sci., F. Heald and C Y/est, two English authorities on storage problems, 

 »-jr«port a spotting of certain late varieties of apples due to their being stored 

 jKith over "ripe specimens of early varieties. The spotting is thought to be caused 

 by -ethylena- gas given off by tho over ripe fruits Although this type of spotting 

 ■has not haaa reported from Massachusetts, there is no reason to believe that it 

 ,ttay jaot -occur. Just another reason for storing only fruit in good condition. 



(j. S. Bailsy) 



. An Own Rooted Mcintosh . Most apple varieties root from the scion very readily 

 when young. It is commonly believed that older trees root much less readily. 

 J^ast May soil was heaped to a depth of 15 to 20 inohos around the trunk of a 

 . dri-gJOroiis. -2Q».yp-.^<>Qid Mcintosh tree in Amherst, In early November it was ^f oimi 

 -Qtt J^e^K»rLng_tiuj-«*U. that ma«y -fi»e Foot^, hii4: g1%rv^ This 



