46 



Now, I am of the opinion that it is impossible to ship the Pameuse to arrive in 

 England in that crisp condition. It is impossible to ship that variety in the barrel 

 to retain that crispness. I, therefore, still reiterate what I said last night, that the 

 compartment case is the best package to adopt in shipping the higher qualities of 

 apples to England — that is, apples of tender flesh, which can be easily bruised, such 

 as the Pameuse and the Wealthy. I shipped a number of cases of the Wealthy to 

 England. I do not know that they had ever been shipped there before ; but the 

 report I received was that the Wealthy was a superb apple. That is the English 

 verdict. It is a delicate apple, of high flavour, and the pressure which is brought to 

 bear in packing them in barrels destroys them; therefore, such apples as the 

 Pameuse and the Wealthy do not carry well in barrels. I have adopted a compart- 

 ment case which seems to meet the object in view. I have also shipped the winter 

 St. Lawrence in cases. That apple will not travel 100 miles in a barrel. It is of 

 tender texture, and does not keep very long — perhaps until Christmas. The Winter 

 St. Lawrence, when shipped in cases, were very highly spoken of. The point I 

 wish to make is, that for shipping the high quality apples to England one has to 

 discard the barrel. We wanl; to get the highest price in England, and we cannot 

 get that unless the fruit is in first-class condition ; and we cannot put these par- 

 ticular varieties on the English market in the condition necessary to command a high 

 price if they are sent over in barrels. The prices which I have received for my 

 apples in cases satisfies me that it is the right method to adopt. I grow only high 

 class apples, and always ship to England in cases. I draw particular attention 

 to the case, believing it is the best thing. I have no interest in it ;• it is not 

 patented, but is just like an egg case, with interior compartments, holding from ten 

 to fifteen dozen. 



Senator Eeesor. — Is it a square case ? 



Mr. Shepherd. — They hold seven by seven, and there are four layers of them in 

 one case, which makes about sixteen dozen. A case of that size takes an apple of 

 the size of a good-sized Pameuse. The twelve dozen cases take the winter St. 

 Lawrence and the large Wealthy. I get the pasteboard made at the factories in 

 Montreal, where they make the interior of the egg cases, marking the square of the 

 size I want it to be on a piece of paper as a pattern for them to go' by. I tell them 

 I want so many in the trays. They furnish me the trays and the squares. The case 

 costs me 50 cents. 



Mr. Johnson. — Do you wrap them up in paper before putting them into the case ? 



Mr. Shepherd. — I have done so when I want to be very particular, although I 

 do not know that it is necessary. The chief thing we have to look to is that the 

 apples fit the squares. It takes some time to fill up the cases in the orchard. The 

 plan I have adopted is to put two cases between a row of trees ; the largest apples go 

 into the cases, and when the men bring the baskets of apples to pack into the barrels 

 we put on one side those that are to go into the cases. It is essential that the apples 

 fit the squares exactly. If they are fitted in too tightly the apples are bruised on 

 the four sides. If they are too small they rattle about iii the oases, and that does not 

 do. They have to be nicely fitted. 



Senator Eeesor. — Do the cases hold about half a barrel ? 



Mr. Shepherd. — Yes ; about half a barrel. 



Senator Perlet. — What do the eases cost ? 



Mr. Shepherd. — I have got them at about 50 cents. A man has a small planing 

 mill near me, and I contracted with him last year at $30 a hundred for the boxes 

 themselves. It is half inch stufi', with about an eighth of an inch nailing on the 

 boards all round. The interior will cost about 15 cents. 



Mr. Starr. — Do you have the interior perforated at all ? 



Mr. Shepherd.— There is a tray put in, and the squares are put on it with 

 the pasteboard tray over it. The tray only is perforated. There is a sufacient 

 circulation of air through the slats in the boxes. I do not think it costs much to get 

 up the interior in that way. Of course, the less work you give to the box 

 manufacturer the less the cost will be to you. 



