70 FRUIT HARVESTING, STORING, MARKETING 



the top layer or two being faced. Sometimes even this 

 small attempt at facing is omitted. 



Large and fancy plums are usually sold at the 

 retail fruit stands in small quantities for eating out of 

 hand. They are therefore packed in small boxes or 

 baskets, and may or may not be wrapped. In either 

 case they are faced. First quality plums not intended 

 for the limited trade of the fancy fruit stands are 

 packed into baskets, the top layer being sometimes 

 faced. If the plums are large and attractive in appear- 

 ance the facing is especially desirable. Small and dull 

 colored plums gain little b>- being faced. 



Most other fruits of the temperate regions, when 

 sent to the market in the fresh state, are not packed 

 according to any recognized system. Each shipper 

 follows his own ideas or the demands of his own 

 market. This statement, however, refers only to 

 methods of packing. The style of package is more a 

 matter of prescription, and is more generally estab- 

 lished by custom. We shall proceed to this important 

 subject with the next chapter. 



