33^ The Canadian Horticjlturist. 



other varieties combined ; and among all the new varieties, if there is any all- 

 round berry to beat it, will somebody rise and tell. My customers always ask 

 for the Wilson for canning, and also for using fresh, and I grow a great many 

 varieties. I try almost every new variety that comes out, and sometimes pay as 

 high as $3 per dozen for plants that prove on trial to be humbugs, boomed by 

 parties who are financially interested in their sale. I have only one fault with 

 the Wilson, that is, the rust on the leaves ; if it were not for that, I would not 

 discard it for any of the new varieties. For hardiness, for productiveness, for 

 shipping qualities, aye, and for " eating," when well ripened, the old reliable 

 Wilson has few equals in my estimation. 



Craighurst, Ont. G. C. Caston. 



THE SIZE OF PACKAGES 



The statement (page 295 of the October number) that a great deal of fruit 

 is put up in small packages which would be much better sold in larger bulk," is 

 true, if it is meant that the consumer gets more value for his money, but is not 

 in accordance with my experience in selling grapes this season, if it is meant 

 that fruit sells more readily in large packages. We sell almost altogether on 

 orders, and arrange our price list so that it is a matter of indifference to us 

 whether fruit is ordered in five, ten or fifteen pound baskets. I have taken 

 three groups of orders, of ten each, nearly all from customers who had ordered 

 several times before, and who must have known what suited their trade and 

 were free to choose the size of the package. The result is that the number of 

 fives, tens and fifteens ordered were in the ratio of 9, 5, i. It may be well to 

 add that we sell very little in the cities. What little we placed on commission 

 was in the city of Detroit, only ten minutes from our Windsor office. I dropped 

 in sometimes and listened to the comments and criticisms as our own fruit was 

 being sold- The following points were strongly emphasized : 



1. Customers will pay from )4, to ^ cent per pound more for a full looking 

 basket (which you cannot get with the Walkerville, or with a board cover), with 

 the appropriate shade of leno over it. 



2. The favorite package for the commission man's Saturday morning's 

 " women's trade " is the ten pound basket. 



3. The fruit stands and grocers, who break bulk, take fifteen or twenty pound 

 baskets. All others take small baskets, except those who make a small quantity 

 of wine for their own use. 



4. The " Diamond " basket sells slightly better than the " Climax " in 

 Detroit market. 



Windsor, Ont. Alex. McNeill. 



Note. — Undoubtedly the ten pound package is better for grapes than a 

 larger size. The statement referred more particularly to putting up apples and 

 pears in small baskets.— Ed. 



