1 
THE COMMERCIAL ASPECT OF HARDY FRUIT GROWING. 325 
Our practice is to pack all our Plums in half sieves or half 
" flats," lining them with soft hay, or preferably bracken ; then 
placing clean paper over that, and arranging the paper so that it 
hangs over the sides sufficiently to cover the Plums entirely 
\vhen the package is full. A little more hay or bracken is then 
placed on the top and securely fastened down. In this way 
the fruit is enclosed in the paper, little or no movement can 
take place, and, after travelling the 140 miles it has to be sent, 
the Plums appear as if just gathered from the trees. The half 
sieve or half *' flat " will contain 18 or 20 lbs. of fruit ; 
and if this is gathered at the time the Plums are changing 
colour and commencing to become soft, not a fruit would be in 
the least damaged, even if the packages had to travel 500 miles. 
Larger receptacles are dangerous, as Plums quickly sweat in a 
bulk of 40 or 50 lbs. and upwards, and if any delay occurs in 
transit, the whole is practically spoiled. 
Another matter intimately affecting the price of Plums is 
the grading. Small and large fruits should never be mixed up 
together, but each be sorted out and packed in separate lots. 
Pears. 
This delicious fruit is always in at least fair demand, and 
many people imagine, from the high prices ticketed upon them in 
the leading fruiterers' windows, that a magnificent profit must be 
made by the growers. My experience is that no hardy fruit is 
more uncertain. The trees themselves, as well as the blossom 
and the fruit, are so much influenced by variations in the 
temperature and soil that it is only in particularly favoured 
districts that Pear culture can be considered a commercial 
success. In such localities there is no question that Pear- 
growing will be a source of profit, providing every cultural 
attention is given to the trees ; for no matter how well adapted 
the place may be for the purpose, really good results can only 
be obtained by skill and sound management. Under these con- 
ditions very handsome sums are realised, and as a proof of how 
well Pears pay, w^e see growers extending their plantations 
more or less every year. This is a step in the right direction 
with all kinds of fruit as well as Pears ; for when we find that 
aijy particular kind of fruit answers exceptionally well, and gives 
