MARKETING 319 



Sectio ns near the Great La kes or other bodies of water have 

 th e advantage of cheaper shipp ing rates to market. Western apple- 

 growers believe that the Panama Canal will offer a cheaper means 

 of transportation than the railroad. They see no reason why, via 

 the Canal, they cannot place their fruits on the Atlantic seaboard, 

 either of the United States or of Europe, at a saving of from a 

 third to a half the rates charged at present. 



The Panama Canal is another bright star in the future of the apple business 

 for the Northwest grower. We now pay 50 cents freight to New York, but 

 when the Panama Canal is completed, our rate will probably not exceed 20 or 

 25 cents per box. Our freight to European points, including the cost of trans- 

 ferring in New York City, is now about 70 cents a box. Freight per box 

 through the Panama Canal will probably not exceed 35 cents per box. In 

 other words, we shall lay our apples down at the Atlantic coast at 25 or 30 

 cents per box less, or abroad for 30 or 40 cents per box less. 1 



The present-day shipments, however, are chiefl y by railroad, fo r 

 which rarg nf qppciaLdegig n, such as cold-s toragjTcars, are used in 

 some cases and in others ordinary box cars. The apple barrels 

 are packed either on their side or standing on end, and securely 

 fastened by boards nailed across the car. Some shipments made 

 in bulk are merely placed on the floor at each end of the car and 

 secured with boards near the doors ; sometimes they are divided 

 into two bins with a passageway between ; and at other times they 

 are put in one large bin and boarded up part way at the doors. 

 Apples in bulk are generally not more than 4 or 6 feet deep. 

 Bulk shipments are unsatisfactory for high-grade fruit, but cider, 

 evaporated, and other low-grade, cheap stock may be shipped 

 profitably in this manner. 



The important item in shipping is to have the cars, boats, 

 trucks, etc. at hand when wanted. This should be attended to 

 long enough ahead to avoid delays. Such matters as loading and 

 icing the cars and making out the necessary shipping papers 

 require careful attention. Each freight car will hold from 180 to 

 190 barrels of apples, and if the weather is warm, each car will 

 require from 1 ton to 5 tons of ice. 



The exact method of loading a car with boxes will depend on 

 the kind of fruit, the season, and the distance from the market. 



1 Better Fruits. Published at Hood River, Oregon. 



