UNIFORMITY. 



This quality is most important in all classes of fruits. The individual 

 specimens that comprise the entry should be as nearly alike as possible. They 

 should each approach the common ideal, which ideal is, of course, the perfect 

 one for the variety and for its intended use. Uniformity gives attractive- 

 ness to what, without it, would be a collection of unattractive specimens. 

 Uniformity is also the fundamental of successful packing, and is the basis of 

 fruit-grading; in itself it also helps to sell the fruit. 



Uniformity applies to colour, size, shape, and condition. Some varieties 

 of fruit are much more variable in shape than others, as, for instance, 

 Wagener and Mclntosh, as compared with Wealthy, Jonathan, and Northern 

 Spy ; and in such irregular varieties such perfect smoothness as is expected 

 in the latter kinds is not typical of the variety, and so would lose points 

 under " Form." 



FREEDOM FROM BLEMISHES AND CONDITION. 



It is a fundamental in exhibiting fruit that it should be perfect : free 

 from all blemishes, whether they cause actual waste or merely disfigurements. 

 This seems a most obvious axiom, and yet much fruit is shown with most 

 apparent defects. Just how to deal with fruit infected with disease is often 

 a problem with the judge, especially at fairs in new districts, or those where 

 fruit is of secondary importance, as in many Coast sections. To disqualify 

 all infected fruit would discourage earnest exhibitors, and would sometimes 

 result in awards going to fruit much inferior in all other essential points. 

 Our judges are therefore instructed to use their best judgment on this point, 

 but to be as firm as possible, and to discourage the display of diseased 

 specimens. 



Blemishes are of four main sorts : 



(1.) Insect injuries, which are generally obvious. Most of these, especially 

 the presence of scale-insects, should disqualify at once. 



(2.) Fungous diseases, especially apple and pear scab, brown-rot of the 

 stone-fruits, etc., for the display of which there is but little excuse. 



(3.) Physiological troubles, prominent among which are fruit-pit (or 

 Baldwin spot) and water-core, for both of which fruit should always be dis- 

 qualified. 



(4.) Mechanical injuries, such as hail-marks, bruises, punctures of the 

 skin, etc. Many of these, especially slight bruises and healed-over injuries of 

 any kind, are considered the least injurious. The absence of the stems is, 

 however, evidence of gross carelessness and should disqualify exhibits of 

 apples, pears, and plums, as it leads to early decay of the fruit. With prunes, 

 it is hard to keep the stems on, and it is unnecessary, as breaking-off of the 

 stem does not with these cause decay. In fact, prunes wither less where the 

 stems are removed. 



POLISHING. 



Unless local regulations and sentiment are distinctly against wiping and 

 polishing, apples and pears may be so prepared. We are aware that this 

 practice is forbidden in the prize-lists of many of our fairs, but the rule is 

 now much more honoured in the breach than in the observance. We believe 

 that it is a regulation which might well be abolished altogether. The large 

 shows all allow polishing. It really does not affect keeping quality. 



CONDITION. 



This refers to the stage of ripeness. Specimens of varieties past season 

 should be in reasonably firm condition, and prizes should be awarded to the 



