PACKING FRUITS FOR ROAD OR RAIL. 



365 



respectively well and carelessly packed, often 

 amounts to fifty per cent. This is very appa- 

 rent at the auction sales of imported fruits, 

 where the effects of loose packing are occa- 

 sionally evident immediately the cases are 

 opened, and the prices will fall from 5s. to 10s. 

 in the £1 instantly, the goods in other respects 

 being identical with those previously sold at 

 the full price. There is little doubt that, next 

 to neglect of grading, imperfect packing is 

 responsible in a large measure for unsatisfactory 

 returns when the general prices are good. 

 Some American authorities go so far as to state 

 that the prices realized depend more upon the 

 packing and the cases employed than upon the 

 fruit itself. This, perhaps, is a slight exaggera- 

 tion, but it conveys an idea of the importance 

 with which the subject is invested by those 

 who have had extensive experience in the con- 

 veyance of fruit long distances. The Cali- 

 fornian growers, for instance, who consign their 

 produce to Chicago and the Eastern towns of 

 the United States, have to prepare their fruits 

 for railroad journeys of 1000 to 2000 miles, 

 and then place them in the markets in competi- 

 tion with the productions of growers compara- 

 tively near to the various centres. This has 

 caused extra attention to be paid to the matter, 

 with the result that Californian fruits have been 

 found to stand high in the Eastern markets 

 quite apart from the actual merit of the fruits. 



Similar results may been seen amongst in- 

 dividual growers; in Britain those who have 

 paid the closest attention to packing in addition 

 to the other essentials can command a place 

 in the markets regardless of distance. Special 

 districts also become noted in this way for the 

 excellence of the packing, and preference is 

 given to consignments from such localities. In 

 our country, unfortunately, there is ample room 

 for improvement in these matters, and this is 

 more marked in the case of horticultural pro- 

 ducts than in many other trades. A great 

 advance has been made in some industries con- 

 cerned with the production of fancy or orna- 

 mental articles, in the packing of which much 

 taste and care are now displayed, to the mani- 

 fest advantage both of the manufacturer and 

 the retailer. It is desirable that this may ex- 

 tend to other businesses, and particularly is it 

 needed in connection with the conveyance of 

 fruits of all kinds, from the choicest and most 

 delicate to the cheapest and most hardy. 



The railway companies of this country show 

 very little favour to home producers, either in 

 the rates charged or in the care bestowed upon 



the consignments. Where large quantities of 

 fruit are forwarded at one time, and whole 

 trucks or special covered vans can be filled, less 

 difficulty is experienced, but for all ordinary 

 small packages of fruits the best possible pack- 

 ing is the only safeguard the sender has against 

 damage. Considering the comparatively short 

 distances that fruit has to be conveyed by rail 

 in this country it is deplorable to witness the 

 amount of injury that is caused to packages of 

 fruit by careless handling. It is perhaps a little 

 worse on a few of the Continental state-con- 

 trolled railways, but this is poor consolation to 

 the grower here, and it only remains for him 

 to protect himself as far as possible by perfect- 

 ing his methods and thus reduce the risk to a 

 minimum. 



Though the conveyance of packages by pas- 

 senger trains is more expeditious, and at 

 owner's-risk rates not greatly in excess of the 

 goods rates for moderate distances, yet it does 

 not always follow that it is the safer mode ex- 

 cept for very perishable fruits in small quantities. 

 It often happens that a number of small pack- 

 ages, secured together in a thorough manner, 

 will travel with less injury by goods train, in 

 vans that go through to the station of delivery, 

 than they do in passenger trains. This risk is 

 increased in the latter case if the goods have to 

 be transferred to another train at some point 

 along the route. Of course with regard to 

 small single packages the passenger trains are 

 the more suitable. 



The method of packing that will suit fruit to 

 be sent by rail is also adequate preparation for 

 consignments by road, but in the latter case a 

 good deal will depend upon the kind of vehicle 

 employed and the nature of the roads. A cart 

 or van furnished with good springs is one of the 

 best means of conveying choice fruits with little 

 damage, but anything in the style of the old 

 farm wagons on a rough road will prove a 

 severe test for the best method of packing that 

 can be adopted. 



For exportation on shipboard special systems 

 are essential, and though it does not often come 

 within the experience of British growers to have 

 to prepare their fruits for such journeys, yet 

 many who go to the Colonies have to deal with 

 it on a large scale, and the subject will therefore 

 be referred to later in the chapter. 



Packing -houses, -rooms, or -sheds. — In propor- 

 tion to the extent of the operations, provision 

 must be made for the work of packing, and any 

 preliminary attention paid to this will yield an 

 ample return in efficiency, convenience, and 



