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Hon. J. P. Clark to Director. 



Kendal, Shooter's Hill P.O. 



Dear Sir, 

 In reply to your questions I will say : — 



1st. I think thick skinned fruit keep best, but is not liked in New 

 York. 



2nd. Green fruit will keep better than ripe, but must be picked a 

 few days before shipment in order to shrink before packed. 



3rd. The bearing of the trees depends entirely on rain. The best 

 shower after a drought in January, will bring a bloom ; 5th February, 

 is the earliest I have known. 



Yours truly, 



J. P. Clark. 



Messrs. Reasoner Bros, to Director Public Gardens and Plantations. 



Florida, January 19, 1895. 



Dear Sir, 



Thick skinned fruit usually ships better than thin. We have never 

 noticed any difference between green fruit or that which was almost 

 ripe. If dried two or three days in a cool room before packing it keeps 

 better than freshly gathered and packed, allowing softening of skin 

 and pulp, avoiding crushing in putting up. Small packages carry 

 better than large. 



Yours truly, 



Reasoner Bros. 



Mr. John J. Beach to Director Public Gardens and Plantations. 



Melbourne, Fla., January 22nd, 1895. 



Dear Sir, 



Yours of the 3rd received. In reply will say that fully mature 

 fruit ships far better than half ripe fruit. If the skin is sound, thin- 

 skinned are best. Wrap with paper and pack firmly. Cut from tree, 

 don't pull, don't bruise. Let stand in shade 24 hours and pack while 

 cool. Wrapping is very important. The firmer and heavier the fruit 

 for its size the better it will carry. 



Yours very truly, 



(Sgd.) John J. Beach. 



