356 The Canadian Horticulturist. 



PACKING PEARS. 



N a paper on Pears, read by J. J. Black before the Penisular (IV.) 

 Horticultural Society, the essayist said: " We believe that pea is 

 should be packed in new bright packages, half barrels, quarter 

 barrels, boxes, crates, down to very small packages. We must 

 take lessons from the California growers. The day has gene 

 by when we can shovel fruit of any kind into five-eights baskets 

 with a corn shovel and then expect the business to pay. In an average season it 

 would be better that never a pear in the nature of a cull went to market. Feed 

 such to hogs and you save freight and then commission, and avoid breaking 

 down the market for good fruit. If a glut comes keep even your primes at home, 

 It is suicidal to break the market ; or avoid it any risk. 



" Devote time to the marketing of pears. Wrap each pear in tissue paper 

 and pack in layer boxes. Then you won't bother with your inferior specimens. 

 you will please the eye of the dealer and consumer and never overstock the 

 market. Why is California fruit looked upon as choice in the market ? We all 

 knowit is not from its flavor. The fruit of the Delaware and Chesapeake peninsula 

 probably excels in flavor the fruit of any other part of the world, and this advan- 

 tage should work a fortune to our growers. The California fruit is looked upon 

 in the market as choice simply because the specimens are all choice specimens, 

 wrapped in tissue paper and packed in layer boxes generally, and is pleasing to 

 every sense except taste. Peninsula fruit is pleasing to all our senses, provided 

 we handle it carefully. This proper handling means the discarding in seasons < f 

 scarcity of probably one-fifth of the crop, and in seasons of plenty one-third 

 should go to the hogs. Such a course, honestly carried out by the growers will 

 rehabilitate our fruit business ; indeed, at present it is one of the great things 

 lacking to general prosperity." 



Be Not Afraid to Thin. — The fruits especially benefited by thinning 

 are the plum, apple, pear, grape and peach. The amount of thinning required 

 is a matter of judgment in each case. The best time to thin fruits is as early as 

 the work can be done with ease and satisfaction. In thinning grapes it is usual 

 to cut out a portion of the bunches ; but those who raise Black Hamburgs or 

 other hothouse grapes are in the habit of cutting out about half the berries from 

 each bunch when they are about the size of peas, using sharp-pointed scissors 

 for the work. After such thinning the grapes grow very large, and present a 

 very attractive appearance in the bunch. It is in this way that the wonderful 

 fruit exhibited at our horticultural shows is grown. It is not customary to thin 

 small-fruits, though there is reason to believe that they would be better for it ; 

 but it is not likely that it would pay, unless for specimens for competition at the 

 horticultural shows. — Mass. Ploughman. 



