150 Grading of Fruit and Vegetables. 



with strawberries, a portion of a crop was sold ungraded at 3d. 

 per lb., another portion of the same variety was sorted and sold 

 in about the following proportion per 100 lb., namely — 50 lb. 

 at 6d., 20 lb. at 4&, and 30 lb. at 3d. Total, 39s. 2d. After 

 deducting the extra expenses this was equal to a gain of £10 per 

 per ton. Similar examples could be easily multiplied, but any 

 ordinary season would afford such proofs. It is evident that if 

 the largest importers find grading profitable, as they admittedly 

 do, with so many disadvantages against them, the home grower 

 ought at least to reap an equal benefit if he would only take the 

 trouble. I have handled many tons of fruit, and should estimate 

 the average increased price of graded samples, compared with 

 that sold in bulk, unsorted, as ranging from 20 to 50 per cent, 

 while the additional cost would vary between 5 and 10 per cent, 

 on the difference in the gross returns. 



A quick eye and some practice under good guidance soon 

 enable a packer to select the various sizes in a uniform manner. 

 Apples in particular can be readily graded into several sizes 

 according to the variety and the crop. Occasionally four well- 

 marked grades may be obtained, in other instances perhaps three 

 are secured, and sometimes only two are obtainable. The 

 difference of a quarter of an inch in diameter will constitute a 

 well marked grade. An American Association has adopted as 

 the minimum standard for first grade apples of the largest types 

 2 \ inches diameter ; while for the smaller types 2\ inches is the 

 minimum diameter for first grade fruits ; in each case a \ inch is 

 allowed between the firsts and seconds. In practice it is found 

 almost impossible to adhere to such exact grading ; the general 

 standard and range in size of the crop or variety must be judged, 

 and the graduation founded upon this. These remarksespecially 

 refer to apples for cooking, or dessert apples equally well 

 coloured, but what h?.s been already said about the value of 

 colour must be remembered and a special grade selected of 

 uniform size where there is a proportion of larger fruits deficient 

 in that respect. 



Most of the details regarding apples are also appropriate to 

 the grading of pears, but as a larger proportion of these 

 are used for eating than cooking, they are more adapted for dis- 

 posal in small packages, and hence repay for the greatest atten- 



