THE COMMERCIAL ASPECT OF HARDY FRUIT GROWING. 299 
the fruits enclosed should be branded on or affixed to the sides. 
For smaller weights of selected fruits the cost of the box is so 
low that it would be wise to include it in the price of the fruit, 
thus avoiding, to growers, salesmen, and purchasers alike, the 
immense amount of trouble involved in the returning of the 
boxes. 
Market Measures and Weights. 
Bushel. — Apples and Pears are chiefly sold by the bushel, 
the former averaging 40 lbs., the latter 5 to 8 lbs. more. Plums 
from 56 to 70 lbs. 
Sieve. — Half- or quarter-sieves are much used for soft fruits. 
Half-sieves of Gooseberries, Currants, and Strawberries average 
24 lbs., of Plums 28 lbs., of Apples 20 to 24 lbs. They are 
also used for Pears and Cherries. 
Pot. — A provincial measure, which varies somewhat in 
different districts. It is usually about 64 lbs. for Apples, and 
72 lbs. for Pears, Plums, or Damsons. Half-pots are also used. 
Peck. — Often used for Strawberries and other soft fruits ; 
about 12 lbs. In the case of Gooseberries, 16 lbs. 
Sleek. — Sometimes used in Scotland, and nearly equivalent 
to the EngUsh bushel. Average : Pears, 50 lbs. ; Plums, 60 lbs. ; 
Apples, 40 lbs. 
Strike. — A local measure nearly corresponding to the pot. 
Apples, 64 lbs. ; Pears, 72 lbs. 
Stone. — Soft fruits are sometimes sold by the stone of 
14 lbs., and larger quantities by the hundredweight of 112 lbs. 
Storing. 
Where Apples and Pears constitute a large proportion of the 
fruit grown, provision must be made for storing, as it is not 
always desirable to market the whole crop directly it is gathered. 
All that is essential is to secure safety from frost, exclude rain, 
and ensure sufficient ventilation to prevent the accumulation of 
moisture. Sheds may be converted for the purpose, or a plain 
wooden structure, with boarded sides and thatched roof, can be 
erected at a small cost. Wherever some such means of storage 
has been adopted growers have proved the advantage in obtain- 
ing better all-round prices for their produce ; but this is chiefly 
applicable to the larger market growers. 
