I So Notes and Gleanings. 



ceives the direct rays of the two-o'clock sun in winter ; and it .is from the effects 

 of the sun on the frozen wood that our trees are damaged. If the body of the 

 tree is damaged by winter, it is always on the sunny side, — never on the north 

 side. It is highly important to guard against this evil. First we should plant 

 the tree with a slight lean to the south-west ; then, in our subsequent pruning, 

 we should be more severe on the north-east side of the tree, and encourage the 

 heaviest branches on the sunny side. 



It is from these various climatic conditions that the subject of horticulture 

 becomes more complicated with us than in Eastern localities. Hence we cannot 

 in all matters safely rely upon our Eastern friends as our horticultural instructors. 

 Western men must learn for themselves, keeping always in view the peculiarities 

 of our changeable climate. Tyler M'-Whortcr. 



MiLLERSBURG, ILU 



Marketing Fruits. — Packages. — Premium. — It is a good sign when 

 the primary meetings of horticulture, such as the local societies, begin to con- 

 sider and discuss the best modes of marketing fruits. There is great room for 

 improvement in this matter. All appear to be striving after such improvement ; 

 and many valuable suggestions have been made at the several gatherings of the 

 season, from the great American Pomological Society to the farmers' clubs. 



The mechanics have met the producers more than half-way, and have already 

 furnished quite a variety of packages for the different kinds of fruit. Indeed, 

 the question is becoming a serious one as to which is the best, and which to 

 adopt. 



The municipal regulations of some markets require a definite measure, and 

 annoying difficulties have arisen from the fact that some of these packages do 

 not correspond to the fixed standards. In some places, fruits are sold by the 

 pound ; which is a very good regulation, and is pretty generally followed in the 

 preparation of the grapes packed for market. The peach boxes and baskets 

 are of such uncertain size, that the people feel they are cheated in the measure. 

 In some markets they are honestly made so as to contain one bushel or two 

 bushels, or certain definite portions of that unit; but when a fruit-grower sends 

 such packages to another market, where the definite measure is not required, 

 he suffers great loss, inasmuch as the full box sells for no more than the short 

 box containing fruit of similar quality. This he must continue to suffer, or he 

 is compelled to throw away his stock of boxes and baskets, and procure others 

 that will enable him to compete in that market. 



In this connection, it will be well for the ingenious manufacturers who are 

 providing these conveniences for the fruit-grower to bear in mind that Mr. J. 

 Knox of Pittsburg, Penn., intends offering a premium of a hundred dollars to 

 the inventor or exhibitor of the best strawberry-box. The award is to be made 

 at his next strawberry-exhibition, which will occur in June of this year, 1868. 



Berries require a small package. The capacity of one quart is a very good 

 size, and the one generally adopted. The fruit is picked, and packed at once 

 into the box or basket, and not again handled until placed upon the plate of the 

 purchaser. These boxes are packed for transportation in crates, or ventilated 



