The Canadian Hukticultlki.M'. 209 



GRADING FRUIT. 



THE proper grading of fruit has much to do with its selling and keeping 

 qualities. The term grading, as generally used, is applied to size alone, 

 but assorting as to color and ripeness is no less important. Much of 

 the fruit found in our home markets is of the most indifferent sort and is 

 packed in a slip-shod, go-as-you-please manner. One green or ill-shaped 

 peach will detract from a whole box, no matter how fine the others may ap- 

 pear. One soft apricot packed iu a box intended to keep a few days may 

 lose you the the profit upon the whole box. A green or soft strawberry in a 

 basket when seen by a buyer will lead him to believe that there are others 

 of the same sort further down in the basket. 



True, it is some trouble to grade your fruit in this way and it requires 

 skill and decision in the packer. It should be remembered, however, that 

 we are in the business to make money and that trouble must be expected 

 and competent help employed, if we are to hear the clink of gold in our 

 pockets. If fruit is properly graded, facing is honest and legitimate ; but 

 only too often is it used as a cloak by which to filch a few cents from the 

 unsuspecting public. In some of our markets you hardly dare buy a box of 

 berries or fruit of any kind without first removing the top layer to see if the 

 remainder is trash. This is plain talking to the "honest farmer," but it is 

 true and the prevalence of this evil has many times curtailed the demand 

 for fruit by disgusting the consumers and has brought disgrace upon fruit 

 growers in general. There is but one way to pack fruit profitably and 

 honorably, if your reputation is of any value whatever. Grade it ; grade it 

 carefully for size, color and ripeness. Every right-minded grower, packer 

 and shipper should insist upon trio grading, and should stamp all fruit 

 shipped as such, so that the purchaser may be certain of the quality of his 

 purchase. In this way honest growers and packers can, in a measure, protect 

 themselves and the public against those who are unscrupulous and careless 

 in their methods. — California Fruit Grower. 



BLIGHT IN PEAR TREES. 



IN my correspondence in last September's Horticulturist, I told you 

 that blight had affected the pear trees rather badly. Little did I 

 think then that it caused such destruction among them. I then 

 thought that it took somewhere in the branches, and that if we were to 

 cut it off some distance below the discoloration and apply linseed oil 



