210 JOURNAL OF THE ROYAL HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY. 



tree, and of bright and normal colour and shapely form." These 

 are the actual words used. 



I am glad, however, to say I believe of late years that our 

 growers have improved in their packing and grading, and I fancy 

 that our cousins across the water have got a little more careless, 

 perhaps thinking they have now got our markets securely ; 

 but we are not quite beaten yet, and I am glad to think English 

 apples are more in demand than they were some years back, and 

 it is for ourselves to say if we can increase that demand. 



Last spring a salesman in Glasgow (a town where nearly all 

 the apples sold are foreign) wrote to me as follows : " I have not 

 for years known English apples sell so well as they have this 

 spring," and this was after one of the heaviest crops of apples we 

 have ever had in this country. As regards the kind of package 

 used, this to a great extent depends upon the market you are 

 sending to. I myself am in favour of boxes or barrels, but 

 whatever the package they are best all of one even size, holding 

 one definite weight, as buyers or sellers do not care to be 

 bothered with calculating the contents of various sorts and sizes 

 of packages unless they are well paid for it. 



Extra choice or specimen apples or pears should be packed 

 carefully, one, two, or three dozen in a box, each apple or pear 

 carefully wrapped in soft paper, one of the most suitable packing 

 materials being what is known as wood-wool. 



One of the best systems of packing apples in boxes has been 

 demonstrated to us at several of the Crystal Palace and other 

 shows by Mr. Archibald Weir, of Ottery St. Mary. Other best 

 apples, and second-sized pears, are best sold in boxes holding 

 about 40 lb., or in flats (baskets with lids holding about 40 lb.). 

 A good deal of fruit in the London markets is sold in bushels 

 holding about 42 lb. I prefer the flats. Barrels holding either 

 5G lb. or 112 lb., I think, are growing in favour in the northern 

 markets. 



Common sorts for certain rnarkets are usually packed in what 

 are called pots, open square baskets without lids, holding in 

 some cases about 84 lb., in others about 112 lb. 



in all cases great care should be taken to pack your fruit 

 firmly. Line the sides of your package well with clean paper, 

 fold the surplus ends of paper over the fruit, and place another 

 sheet on the top. Take care the package is well filled. Be care- 



