io2 THE BOOK OF MARKET GARDENING 



produce, and not to excluded or refuse fruits, which 

 frequently will not pay for carriage in any form. 



The protection of fruits in boxes should be chiefly 

 provided at the bottom, top, and sides, while sometimes 

 it may be desirable to protect the fruits individually. 

 Thus for the small size boxes that will hold a dozen 

 good dessert Apples of the Cox's Orange type in a single 

 layer, the bottom is covered with the finest wood-wool, 

 sufficiently thick to prevent contact with the wood. 

 Over this is placed a sheet of tissue-paper, cut to the 

 requisite size to fold over on the top when the package 

 is completed. The Apples are placed in, close together, 

 and wool is added at the sides as necessary to render all 

 firm ; another layer of wool is placed on the top over the 

 paper before securing the lid, and boxes packed in this 

 manner have been sent hundreds of miles without the 

 slightest injury to the contents. When the fruits are 

 rather smaller but highly coloured, a piece of tissue-paper, 

 folded several times into a strip a little less in width than 

 the height of the Apple, is wrapped round each fruit as it 

 is placed in position, and this method we have always 

 adopted with choice ripe Plums. Sometimes, in place of 

 the tissue-paper wrapping, rather more wood-wool may 

 be used, and drawn up in ridges between the rows of 

 fruits ; in that case and in all others where the substance 

 named is in direct contact with the fruits, it should be 

 shaken quite clear of dust or small particles that might 

 adhere to their surface. 



An example of the care which Californian and other 

 foreign growers consider to be worth expending upon 

 the best fruits is afforded by the system often adopted of 

 wrapping each Plum, Pear, or other fruit in a small square 

 of soft paper. This is stamped with the name of the 

 grower, and occasionally with that of the variety. It 

 serves as an advertisement, and while protecting the 

 contents, also indicates to the buyer the character of the 



