1(38 HATCH EXPER1]VH:XT STATION. [Jan. 



use of boxes has been enij^hasized during the ship})ing season 

 of 1903 by the great scare ity and unreasonably higli ijrice 

 of barrels. Inciuiries regarding the use of boxes have ae- 

 cordingly been frei^uent ; and on this account it has been 

 thought that a brief note of our experience in the depart- 

 ment of horticulture would })rove of general interest. 



Bushel boxes of two connnon })atterns have been used dur- 

 ing the two shi})ping seasons of 1902 and 1903, though not 

 in large numbers. Both early apples and winter varieties 

 were shi})ped in these packages. In every case the results 

 were gratifying. The apples always brought as much monej', 

 or more, than the same (juantity of fruit in barrels ; in fact, 

 the cash returns were nearly always greater, and sometimes 

 sur})risingly so. In one instance, in 1902, Gravensteins 

 were shipped both in barrels and in bushel boxes on the 

 same day and to the same dealer, the fruit being from the 

 same trees, and graded precisely the same throughout ; 

 the apples in boxes, however, were wrapped in papers. In 

 this instance the barrels sold at $2 each, and the boxes at 

 the same price. Since the boxes hold very nearl}^ one-third 

 of a barrel, the price Avas approximately three times as much 

 for the fruit in boxes. 



This case, however, is extreme; no such greatly disj)ro- 

 portionate price was secured in an}^ other instance for box 

 a})ples. Still, every shipment of apples in boxes showed a 

 fair margin in favor of the package, and several times the 

 diti'erence was a handsome one. 



According to our experience, it seems that the bushel box 

 is es})ecially advantageous for early apples, — say up to the 

 end of the Gravenstein season. Fancy grades of all varieties, 

 however, may be expected to show good results in boxes. 

 Sutton Beauty, shipped as late as Christmas time, realized 

 high prices. 



Our experience also faxors the use of xNrapi)ing paj)ers on 

 fancy apples, more especially on highly colored and on soft- 

 fleshed earl}- varieties. These papers are best bought ready 

 cut for the purpose, and are sui)})lied by various dealers. 



There are several forms of boxes in use. Those which we 

 have specially examined are as follows : — 



