CHAPTER XXIII 

 GRADING 



Reasons for better grading. Several years ago the grading of 

 fruit was not considered necessary, but as fruit-growing has de- 

 veloped from a side issue on the farm to an important business, a 

 change in the methods of handling the crop has been imperative. 

 Competition has become so keen and the consumer has become so 

 well educated, that in order to sell apples at remunerative prices 

 the conscientious grading of fruit must be practiced. 



Sometimes, even in recent years, buyers have been greatly de- 

 ceived by unfair, dishonest methods of grading. Often barrels of 

 apples which show good-sized specimens as " facers " grade down 

 to small fruits in the middle or at the bottom of the barrel. In 

 time sharp competition will eliminate such swindles, for the dis- 

 honest grower is sure to suffer in the long run if such practices 

 are continued. 



At the present time our markets are flooded with apples of poor 

 quality that should never have been packed. As a result, not only 

 are very low prices obtained for such stock, but the demand for 

 the better class of apples is hurt and prices are lowered. We are 

 rapidly reaching a period in the apple industry when there will 

 be an overproduction of apples if the present methods of packing 

 continue. In fact, that period of overproduction seems to have 

 been already reached — prices are becoming lower and lower be- 

 cause the quality packed is inferior. There is one way in which 

 we can prevent and remedy this overproduction, and that is to 

 raise the standards of packing by permitting no second-grade apples 

 to be packed. If the growers will cooperate to ship only first-grade 

 apples to the market, and to pack those in a more attractive manner, 

 they will stimulate a demand that will equal any production of 

 apples that may take place. 



But what shall we do with our seconds and our cider apples if we 

 cannot pack them and ship them to our markets ? The evaporators 



