102 THE CONNECTICUT POMOLOGICAL SOCIETY. 



thousand baskets of peaches went to market from here, at least 

 double the quantity ever sent out before. Some of the most 

 extensive and finest young bearing peach orchards in New- 

 England are located in this vicinity, as well as many younger 

 ones not yet of bearing size. It is estimated that upwards of 

 forty thousand peach trees will be planted out near this center 

 this coming spring. 



The fruit of this locality was mostly sent from two shipping 

 points. Wallingford and Yalesville. At the first mentioned place, 

 a storehouse and trackage was obtained, a capable man placed 

 in charge, who took care of the loading and shipping of tlie 

 fruit, and a certain sum charged the shipper per basket for 

 services rendered. Here buyers from different places came in, 

 saw the fruit as brought in, and secured their supply for ship- 

 ping. At the other place of shipment, Yalesville, in the same 

 town, a similar plan was pursued, the owner of the fruit 

 being expected to pay a small sum per basket to cover items 

 of expense, such as boards, nails, labor, etc., putting into car, 

 and a small per cent, commission on sales for office work 

 involved in looking after shipments, telegrams, telephone ser- 

 vice, etc. In both places the services of experienced men were 

 obtained, and the general working of the plan was satisfactory 

 to all concerned. Several of the large peach growers of the 

 State made every effort last season to obtain shelf- refrigerator 

 cars, but, I think, without success. Refrigerator cars without 

 shelving could have been had in limited numbers, but as arrange- 

 ments had been made to pack the fruit in i6-quart baskets, no 

 great use was made of these cars. 



It would seem that the Connecticut peach shippers cannot 

 longer do without ice cars. They are a necessity, and must 

 be had if we expect to successfully market our fast yearly 

 output of fruit. We must have more market room, as well as 

 avoid, as much as possible, the necessity of rushing sales the 

 moment the fruit reaches its destination, on account of lack of 

 keeping qualities. Our railroad people, while seemingly dis- 

 posed to help the fruit-shipping interest, fail to comprehend 

 the situation, by not providing suitable cars except in small 

 numbers ; and, consequently, the bulk of the crop went to 

 market in tight-boxed cars, with results gratifying to no one, 

 unless to the carriers. Several parties urged rej^eatedly the 

 matter on the railroad officials, to prevent, if possible, this very 



