FRUIT SHOWS 269 



perfect pack or fruit. Either 100 or 1,000 points may be 

 used, the latter preferably. Each different class will 

 probably call for a different set of weights for each 

 point. Where commercial packs are specified the per- 

 fect pack is considered as the one that would bring the 

 highest price on the market. Each particular feature 

 that the buyer would consider is weighed separately, 

 according to its importance. The sum total of these 

 points represents the ideal or 100% perfect. 



The score card for the fruit, not associated with a 

 market question, represents more the ideal in the minds 

 of the judges to which the variety is supposed to con- 

 form. Other classes may need to have special score cards 

 prepared to meet the needs of the occasion. In the case 

 of feature displays the judges devise some means of 

 comparison to cover the particular feature under con- 

 sideration. There are many different kinds of score cards 

 in common use in the different fruit sections of the 

 United States. In nearly all cases the important points 

 covered are the same, differing only in the relative 

 weights given the different points. Efforts have re- 

 cently been made to combine these into a universal 

 score card for all conditions. Through the efforts of the 

 Society of Horticultural Science such a score card has 

 appeared. 



Judging the Fruit. With this very elaborate schedule 

 to go by, all the judges have to do is to examine the 

 package and see how near, in their judgment, it con- 

 forms to the standard. While this appears very easy 

 to do, it is, in reality, very difficult. Men do not often 

 think alike, hence two or three judges are better than 

 pne, as their opinion represents an average. Where there 



