154 THE CONNECTICUT POMOLOGICAL SOCIETY. 



were exceedingly good, and above anything that we could get 

 for them at home. We realized as high as four to five dollars 

 a barrel. The barrel packages we were successful with only in 

 a limited way. The half-boxes were what took in the English 

 market. Some of the consignments arrived in poor condition, 

 but those that arrived in good condition competed with the Eng- 

 lish varieties, and realized good money. Of course to handle 

 this trade successfully we must have the benefit of cold storage 

 on ship-board, and the trouble with shipping in cold storage 

 on the steamers is the same as the trouble with cold storage in 

 the field. I understand that the question of cold storage was 

 discussed in your convention to-day. I should have liked to 

 have been present at that discussion, and have heard the differ- 

 ent opinions in regard to it. There are certain things in regard 

 to cold storage which we have got to understand as absolutely 

 necessary. The fruits must be gotten into cold storage as 

 rapidly as possible, and the temperature must be kept even. 

 The mistake of even a degree in temperature may cause loss and 

 serious trouble. 



Mr. J. H. Hale: You spoke of using tasteful packages, and 

 advised against the use of common flour barrels. If we can't 

 get anything else what shall we do ? 



Mr. Foster : Why, Mr. Hale, that question is almost a super- 

 fluous one, simply because in districts like Ulster Count}-, N. Y., 

 and the back districts in Connecticut they cannot get new barrels 

 as readily as you can, and they have to depend upon the common 

 flour barrel, but it would pay many of those growers to obtain 

 new barrels. The difference in price is only a matter of ten or 

 fifteen cents at the most, while a good second-hand barrel can 

 be made all right to use ; in a good many cases it is not done, 

 and it operates against the price that the fruit brings. Why, I 

 have seen fruit come into the New York market so covered with 

 flour that you could hardly recognize what it was, and it was 

 very hard to convince the shipper that the fruit had arrived in 

 any such condition. 



Mr. Merriman : I would like to know if a bushel package or 

 box would not be better in shape for the London market ? 



Mr. Foster : Well, in one way it might, but the bushel box 

 costs in proportion a great deal more than the barrel. Unless 

 for fine yarieties I should say not. For fine varieties, such as 

 the King and that class of fruit, I should say "yes." 



