ELEVENTH ANNUAL MEETING. 151 



from the haphazard standard of former days to that of the 

 scientific culture which gradually but surely is making its influ- 

 ences felt in every rural community. The great cry of the 

 distributor in the fruit markets of the world at large to the horti- 

 cultural societies, of which this is an honored representative, is, 

 "Come over into Macedonia and help us." The average grower 

 of fruits and vegetables needs just as much education upon the 

 secondary proposition, how best to market his product, as upon 

 the primary one of how best to grow it. The distributor, or 

 dealer, to whom he may consign, withholds suggestions for 

 fear of being misimderstood. To criticize a shipper's methods 

 too often means the loss of a more or less valuable client. It 

 doesn't pay, and is therefore considered not worth while. The 

 grange meeting and the county and state convention is where 

 work of this kind can be promoted without fear of misrepre- 

 sentation. 



What the markets require is, quality first, and quantity next. 

 Let the peaches be well graded with but one variety in a pack- 

 age. Give generous measure. A crate of raspberries or straw- 

 berries scantily filled never brings its real value. Avoid the 

 "pony" package, and let the package be new whenever and 

 wherever possible. The apple barrel adopted by the National 

 Apple Shippers' Association is the standard of the country, and 

 will sell in any market at home or abroad. The stove-pipe 

 barrel of the Hudson River can go to Europe or to New York, 

 where they don't want it, but the great West will have none of 

 it. When using the generous second-hand flour barrel always 

 wash and dry it thoroughly. Flour dust upon apples, pears or 

 quinces means a cut of twenty-five or fifty cents in the price to 

 make the stock sell. It represents a poor economy of time and 

 labor. Use a stencil for the different varieties of fruits. It 

 costs but a trifle, and indicates care and interest in the details 

 that is always appreciated. Don't be ashamed to have a brand 

 of your own, and pack up to it. The No. 2 stock will sell under 

 a second brand, which can be understood. Shake apple barrels 

 often while packing the fruit, and the attendant pressing need 

 not then be too severe to bring it to market tight and in good 

 form. 



And now a word about a few other rec|uirements of the home 

 and foreign fruit markets : A g-enerous e^overnment has recently 



