THE MARKETING OF TOMATOES. 175 



April the average will rise to 3 ounces and more. 

 In May, well pollinated fruits often weigh 7 or 8 ounces. 

 The weight of the best fruits is often increased by cut- 

 ting off the smallest and most irregular ones. The larg- 

 est forced tomato which I have ever seen was grown 

 by John Kerman, Grimsby, Ontario. It weighed 24^ 

 ounces. It was an Ignotum, and was picked in June. 

 Mr. Kerman reports* another fruit of the same crop 

 which weighed 27^ ounces. 



A grower of house tomatoes gives me a description 

 of his method of marketing: "In shipping I use small 

 packages. The flat-bottomed splint basket, holding about 

 8 qts., with handle, is excellent, and can be bought for 

 $6 or less per gross. They hold 10 Ibs. each. In 

 packing, line the basket with at least two thicknesses of 

 medium-weight wrapping paper, turning down the cor- 

 ners even with the top of the basket, or have it cut to 

 exactly fit. Newspapers can be used, but are not so 

 neat. Two inches of excelsior shavings is placed in the 

 basket after being lined with the paper. The tomatoes 

 are wrapped singly in tissue paper, cut by manufacturers 

 in convenient sizes, two sizes being sufficient. Two lay- 

 ers of tomatoes are packed in each basket, with a layer 

 of excelsior between each layer and on top of the upper 

 layer. I have found these baskets to hold just 10 Ibs. 

 of tomatoes without undue crowding or rubbing the side 

 of the basket. The grower's name and net weight of 

 tomatoes should be placed, by means of a neat label, 

 inside of the basket, and the basket wrapped in paper, 

 all tied securely and neatly, with label on outside for 

 shipping direction, to include consignor's name, and 

 grade and weight of package. The tomatoes should be 

 sorted into at least three grades firsts or choice, sec- 

 onds, and culls." 



Animal parasites. A white scale (Aleyrodes vapor- 



*Canadian Horticulturist, xix. 260 (August, 1896.) 



