PROCEEDINGS OF THIRTY-SIXTH FRUIT-GROWERS' CONVENTION. 187 



on arrival and .69 per cent. .81 per cent, and 1.20 per cent three, five 

 and seven days after arrival, respectively. Why not change the method 

 of packing 1 will at once suggest itself to some. But this is not to 

 be recommended until every other means to get the fruit through in 

 sound condition has been exhausted. We believe that the results of 

 our carefully handled shipments show that fruit can be gotten to 

 market in sound condition packed in crates. The markets are accus- 

 tomed to receiving California grapes in crates and any attempt to 

 change the package or method of packing on a large scale will result 

 in serious objection on the part of the buyers. 



We have had one example and warning of this during the season 

 just closed in the way that the general use of the 2-basket crate has 

 been objected to in the Eastern markets. These objections are likely to 

 continue and if the markets insist on a 4-basket package the grapes 

 will have to be packed in that way. It is claimed, and perhaps right- 

 fully, that the 2-basket packs arrived in no better condition than those 

 packed in 4-baskets. and that, besides, the 2-basket packs often were 

 more loosely put up and did not look so well on arrival. We have had 

 a number of 2-basket packs under observation and in many of them we 

 have found as many injured berries and as much decay as in some of 

 the 4-basket packages. The use of the large basket will not of itself 

 correct the trouble, and unless the packer does her share, there is no 

 advantage. However, it can not be doubted that it is easier to pack in 

 the large baskets and there is less liability to break or injure the berries. 

 The packer has a better chance to do good work, and do it more quickly 

 than she has with the 4-baskets ; but if she uses care, she can get the 

 grapes into the smaller baskets without serious damage. She will have 

 to be given more time and consequently must not be expected to put 

 up so many crates a day. 



A comparison was made in a few shipments of commercially packed 

 4-basket and 2-basket crates, with the following results : 4-basket crates, 

 11.30 per cent decay; 2-basket crates, 8.50 per cent decay, on arrival 

 at New York. 



These figures show less decay in the 2-basket packages, but both are 

 beyond a reasonable commercial limit on arrival. As in the case of 

 grapes in storage, we have placed 5 per cent as a reasonable commercial 

 limit on arrival. Up to 5 per cent would be considered sound. Above 

 5 per cent and up to 10 per cent would be noticeable, and above 10 per 

 cent would be fit for only immediate use. More than 15 per cent would 

 not be salable except at a heavy discount. 



Table 3 and corresponding chart show the percentages of decay 

 resulting from injuries and the percentages of injured berries found 

 in a number of commercial packs obtained from different growers and 

 held in Lodi in an iced ear for about two weeks or the equivalent of a 

 trip across the continent. 



TABLE 3. 



Average Percentage of Decay from Injuries and Percentages of Injured Berries in 

 Commercial Crates Held in Iced Car at Lodi Same Length of Time as Trans- 

 continental Trip. 



Decay, Injuries, 

 per cent. per cent. 



First day 9.02 12.82 



Third day 18.53 8.68 



Fifth day 23.52 7.15 



Seventh dav 29.62 4.21 



