416 The Principles of Fruit-growing. 



It is an excellent plan for the fruit-grower to visit 

 markets in advance of the ripening of his crop, and 

 to determine just what style of package his market 

 will most appreciate. When fruits are pooled, or 

 shipped through exchanges or unions, it is imperative 

 that a uniform style of package should be used; but 

 when a man handles fruit solely upon his own ac- 

 count, and has a fine or superior quality, he can 

 often advertise his product by a unique package, 

 or at least by one that is unlike those in most 

 common use. Such a package singles him out from 

 his neighbors, and answers as a trade -mark for his 

 product. The writer has known profitable returns to 

 be got from fruit which was shipped in colored 

 baskets. A dye was made of aniline, and the bas- 

 kets were dipped into the kettle (being handled with 

 a pitchfork), and fruit which was no better than the 

 ordinary run brought from two to five cents a bas- 

 ket more than that packed in the ordinary white 

 package. This will not often succeed, however, but 

 this instance is given simply to show that a package 

 which is somewhat out of the usual run may be a 

 desirable one for a man to use upon particular oc- 

 casions. 



In all the finest fruits the grower should use 

 nothing but a gift package, that is, one which is 

 given away with the fruit when it is sold. This in- 

 sures a clean and dainty package, and the pur- 

 chaser is not bothered with the thought of returning 

 it. In fruits which are to reach a good market, 

 a package which has been used once is a positive 



