FRUIT SHOWS 259 
prize. The fruit may be either packed at home or 
shipped to the show and packed by experts, the latter is 
usually the better, as good packs may be disarranged by 
rough handling in shipping. 
The fruit selected for the exhibit is best placed by 
itself as soon as picked and graded. When the time for 
the show arrives it is re-graded and carefully examined 
for blemishes of all kinds. Scab or scale-marked fruit 
is rejected. All stems should be intact, and no limb 
bruises or blotches show. After this is done, the owner 
or packer grades for size and color. Each package then 
is as uniform in these respects as possible. Many shows 
specify what the standard sizes of the different varieties 
is to be, in which case the exhibitor adheres strictly to 
the rules. Unduly large fruits should not be placed in 
commercial packs for that which is discounted on the gen- 
eral market will be discounted by the judges. And the 
market does not care for oversized specimens. In plate 
exhibits uniformity in size and color markings are looked 
out for. Fruit may vary naturally in color yet uniform- 
ity in each separate plate is necessary. Overcolored or 
undercolored specimens are usually discounted. 
When the selection is all complete the packing may 
begin. Barrels and boxes may be packed before send- 
ing. Most judges allow for the ordinary box bruises, 
so such will stand an even chance with those packed 
after reaching the show. Long distance shipping in 
barrels for exhibition seldom pays. Boxes may be placed 
in straw or excelsior in barrels. If sent to the exhibition 
and then packed, about 15% more fruit is sent than is 
intended to be used, to allow for bruises or damages in 
shipping. For plate specimens, each separate fruit is 
