Grading of Fruit and Vegetables. 149 



peaches, and nectarines. A special market must be at com- 

 mand for such samples, or they should be sent direct to the 

 consumers or retailers. 



The bulk of fruit grading will, however, be mainly concerned 

 with variations in size, provided the essentials of good form and 

 freedom from defects be secured. It is of the utmost import- 

 ance to ensure that each grade be as uniform throughout as 

 close attention can accomplish, and then the full value of the 

 work is most likely to be obtained. 



The question is sometimes raised whether grading yields a 

 profit to the grower sufficient to pay for the trouble, but a very 

 moderate experience suffices to give an emphatic affirmative 

 reply. Many proofs could be adduced, but here is one that 

 illustrates the advantage. In an average season twenty bushels 

 of Warner's King Apples were gathered for sale, and of these 

 ten bushels were sold unsorted, just as the fruits came from 

 the trees, at 4s. 6d. per bushel. The remaining fruits were 

 graded and sold as follows : — 



Ten bushels unsorted at 4s. 6d 2 5 o 



Cost of grading ... ... ... ... ... ... o I O 



Gain on graded fruits ... ... ... ... o 12 o 



The average price per bushel of the sorted apples was thus 

 over 5s. 9d., as against 4s. 6d., the expenses of carriage and sale 

 being the same in each case. Two bushels of defective fruits 

 mixed with the others thus materially lowered the value of the 

 whole consignment when sent in an ungraded state. 



When dealing with choice fruits that can be sold in smaller 

 quantities these differences are greatly magnified. At a time 

 when several varieties of the best dessert apples were not bring- 

 ing more than 12s. per bushel in central markets, a portion of the 

 crop was sorted and realised at the rate of 23s. per bushel. For 

 example, 10 dozen fruits of the best brought is. 6d. per dozen, 

 and 8 dozen of another grade brought is. per dozen. Again, 



£ s. d. 



3 bushels at 8s. 



2 „ at 7s. 



3 „ at ss. 

 2 2s. 6d, 



140 

 o. 14 o 

 o 15 o 

 050 



£2 18 o 



