78 FRUIT CULTURE. 



sions can easily be obtained of packing-case makers at 

 a moderate price. The best and cheapest packing mate- 

 rial to use is wood wool, specially made for the purpose. 

 It is light, elastic, and clean, and made of wood which is 

 free from smell. 



Apples. The choicest dessert apples may also be 

 packed in the same way, and for really prime dessert 

 fruit would pay for the cost of packing-. It is not neces- 

 sary to use tissue paper in which to wrap each fruit of 

 apples and pears, as wood wool is so clean that it adheres 

 but very little to the fruit ; but at the same time with 

 really good specimens it is desirable to do so. A little 

 labour, with the small cost incurred, is well repaid. Ever 

 bear in mind that dessert fruit should be made to look 

 as clean and attractive as possible. A little taste dis- 

 played in the packing of each fruit with white or tinted 

 tissue paper, and the boxes margined with ornamental 

 paper, often ensures a ready sale for foreign fruit of even 

 second-rate quality. The dressing and packing of choice 

 fruit can easily be done at the homestead by women and 

 children, who with a little practice soon do it quickly and 

 well. 



As to the more bulky fruit which has to be sent to 

 market in large quantities, such as apples and pears, two 

 things are most essential ; namely, to keep the sorts dis- 

 tinct, and grade the fruit to even sizes. This cannot be 

 emphasized too much. A basket of apples or pears with 

 several sorts mixed, though each may be equally valuable 

 by itself, would be of considerably less value in the 

 market than a basket of each variety separate. And 

 never top up the basket with larger selected fruits ; for 

 although this is a common practice, it brings its own swift 

 reward. It is immediately detected and, suspicion being 



