THE CANADIAN^ HORTICULTURIST. ISii 



HORTICULTURAL GOSSIP. Y. 



BY L. WOOLVERTON, M. A., GRIMSBY. 



How TO Pack a Barrel op Apples. — Few growers of fruit arc 

 aware how much their success in tlie markets depends upon the man- 

 ner in which their fruit is packed. And this matter is wortliy of 

 especial attention now that the apple is becoming so important an 

 article of export from Ontario, because only such as have been pro- 

 perly put up will be purchased for shipment to foreign markets. 



The best place for packing is in barns, or under cover of sheds, 

 where wet weather cannot hinder, for apples should always be dry 

 wlien handled to preserve their bright fresh appearance. They may 

 be brought into the store house on a drag, either in bushel baskets 

 or in barrels, which latter need not be emptied till packing tima If 

 6m{3tied in heaps, a few inclies of straw should be first placed upon the 

 floor, and the depth should not exceed two ox three feet. Practically 

 however, the most of our orchardists pack from heaps in the orchard. 



The following suggestions for packing may prove useful to some 

 of the readers of the Horticulturist. 



1st — Put the name of the variety on the head of the barrel with a 

 stencil, in the first place, because when headed up mistakes are easily 

 made as to the kind enclosed. 



2nd — Take out the bottom end and pack first the end intended as the 

 iiead, placing in the first two layers by hand with the stems down- 

 ward, so that on being opened the barrel may present a nice even ap- 

 pearance. 



3rd — Select carefully, throwing out all wormy, spotted or bruised 

 specimens, to be sold as culls or made into cider, and making the 

 quality . uniform throughout the barrel. The deceptive practice of 

 making a fair show at lx)th ends, and hiding poor stock in the middle 

 deserves the severest censure as dishonest ; besides proving the worst 

 policy in the end, for what buyer would be twice deceived by such 

 contemptible fraud. 



4tli — The barrel should be gently shaken several times while being 

 filled, to settle the apples closely ; after which the end will need to be 

 pressed down only about three-cpiarters of an inch, for which purpose 

 a lever or screw press will be found almost indispensable. Experience 



