308 , Fruit-growing in Arid Regions 



further check upon careless work. The management 

 has gone on the idea that the very best fruit put up in 

 the best way will sell itself (Fig. 97); and this has 

 proved to be true. They even go so far as to hold a pack- 

 ing school where men and women are trained in the art. 



All fancy apples are wrapped, and paper is placed be- 

 tween each two layers in the box. They find that apples 

 packed on their sides are more satisfactory than when 

 placed with stems up, as is commonly done. Perhaps 

 no other apple-growing section is so well advertised, and 

 no section receives a higher average price for fruit. 



As early in the fall as estimates can be made, printed 

 lists are made of the number of boxes and grades of the 

 various varieties. These lists are sent to dealers in all 

 parts of the United States and in Europe, and bids are 

 invited. The fruit is struck off to the highest bidders, 

 and if any remains unsold, lists are again sent out. Thus 

 all of the fruit is sold f.o.b. Inasmuch as it sells itself, 

 the .manager's time is devoted largely to seeing that the 

 fruit is properly picked and packed. 



Whether this method of packing will work on a much 

 larger scale remains to be determined. But the attention 

 to the details of picking, grading, and packing may surely 

 be studied with profit by all. The idea of building up 

 and holding a reputation to the point where fruit sells 

 itself is certainly a good one. 



The Hood River Berry Association has found that 

 by the same careful attention to details it can ship straw- 

 berries to Chicago at good profit. 



The charge is often made that while these prominent 

 associations in Washington and Oregon are successful in 



