THE AVOCADO 57 



tomato crate, which measures about 12 X 12 X 24 inches. 

 It is sometimes used with a partition in the center, sometimes 

 without. Excelsior is placed above and below each layer of 

 fruits as a cushion, and is stuffed around them freely to hold 

 them in place and prevent bruising. Some growers wrap each 

 fruit in tissue-paper, but the wisdom of this practice is doubtful. 

 The fruits heat more quickly when wrapped, and as heating 

 greatly hastens the ripening process it should be avoided as 

 much as possible. Avocados must not be packed under such 

 great pressure as oranges, more care being necessary in nailing 

 on the top of the crate to avoid crushing the fruits. 



The number of fruits to a crate varies from twenty-three to 

 fifty-four with Trapp, the average being about forty. Pollocks 

 run from eighteen to thirty-six to a crate, while seedlings run 

 from twenty-eight to ninety. Quotations, f. o. b. southern 

 Florida, are sometimes made by crate, sometimes by dozen 

 fruits. The following figures on Trapps are those quoted by 

 one of the principal shippers at Miami during the past several 

 years : 



First week in October, 54s (that is, fruits which pack 54 to 

 the crate), 75 cents a dozen ; 50s, 85 cents ; 46s, $1 ; 36s, $1.30 ; 

 28s, $1.75; 23s, $2. After November first the price is in- 

 creased on all sizes, as follows: 50s, $1.50 a dozen; 46s, $2; 

 36s, $3. At Thanksgiving the prices vary from $3 to $4 a 

 dozen for 24s, 36s, and 46s, and about Christmas they advance 

 to $4 to $6 a dozen. 



Pollocks are quoted during August as follows : 36s, 75 cents 

 a dozen; 28s, $1; 24s, $1.50; 18s, $2. The quotations on 

 high-grade seedling fruits at the same time are as follows: 

 50s to 60s, 60 cents a dozen ; 46s, 75 cents ; 36s, $1 ; 28s, $1.50. 



Prices on Trapps a crate vary from about $2 in early October 

 to as high as $36 for the last few crates at the end of the season 

 in February ; these figures are f . o. b. southern Florida. From 

 one of the principal groves near Miami the entire crop has been 



