GRADING, PACKING, AND MARKETING FRUIT. 



175 



it was not owing to the tap-roots that so many writers in 

 the Times had lately been making such doleful misrepresenta- 

 tions. If the tap-roots of fruit-trees were allowed to make tracks 

 for Australia (to go down into a cold or ungenial subsoil), there 

 was no wonder that the Pears were but a little better than hard 

 sticks. Every tree was worth a stake, or it was not worth plant- 

 ing. He was quite in sympathy with the meeting on the ques- 

 tion of railway rates. The preserving of fruit was a question of 

 immense importance. Prices varied because fruit was so perish- 

 able. 



Mr. Wise, in responding to the vote of thanks, would not be 

 drawn into the subject of tap-roots. He, however,' said that 

 he " believed that tap-roots should be stopped, and that if Mr. 

 Fish thought he used tap-roots instead of stakes for the trees at 

 Toddington he was greatly mistaken ! " 



Madame de Salis asked whether the tap-roots should be 

 cut before or after the planting. 



Mr. Fish replied that they should be cut before planting. 

 The tap-root was antagonistic to the production of fruit, and 

 only went to the making of timber. 



A vote of thanks to the Chairman closed the second day's 

 Conference. 



On the third day of the Conference, Tuesday, October 2, the 

 Chair was taken at 3.30 p.m. by Philip Ckowley, Esq., F.L.S., 

 Treasurer of the Royal Horticultural Society and Chairman of 

 the Fruit and Vegetable Committee. 



GRADING, PACKING, AND MARKETING FRUIT. 



By Mr. Geoege Moneo, F.R.H.S. 



When Mr. W 7 ilks wrote asking whether Mr. Webber or I would 

 contribute a paper on packing and marketing, I at first declined; 

 but I found it was no use my doing so, for, as a great many of 

 you have no doubt found, if our Secretary sets his mind on any- 

 thing connected with the Royal Horticultural Society, it is almost 



