PACKING. 



25 



occasioned by rejecting the small ones. Fruits that average more 

 than fifty to a tomato crate are not desirable for sending to distant ' 

 markets. While the demand has been so strong that almost an}^ 

 avocado in sound condition would sell, too great emphasis can not be 

 placed upon the necessity for packing each crate with fruit of uniform 

 size, shape, and color. 



While the market has no pronounced demand for any particular 

 form, those of a decided pear shape (see fig. 8), of even size, and of 

 which about three dozen can ])e packed in a tomato crate, l)ring the 

 highest price. 



A. B. 



Fig. 8.— Longitudinal section:; of pear-shaped avocados, West Indian-Sonth American varieties 

 (about one-half natural diameter) : A, very large seed, loose in the cavity; B, large seed, loose in the 

 cavity. 



PACKING. 



For shipping purposes the market at present demands a tomato 

 crate or an eggplant crate. In the course of a few 3"ears a standard 

 package of dimensions best adapted to this particular fruit will, no 

 doubt, be adopted. Neither the tomato crate nor the eggplant crate 

 is perfect from the growers' point of view. The larger package brings 

 such a quantity of fruit into one compartment that some of the lower 

 ones are likely to be bruised in transit. If some of the avocados hap- 

 pen to become soft on the w^ay, the appearance of the remainder will 

 be much injured and the selling value of the entire crate will be greatly 

 reduced. The tomato crate is much better in these respects, but it is 

 not entirely satisfactory, because only the round fruits pack well in it. 



