THIRTY-THIRD BlENNIAE SESSION 
i8.3 
Much progress in this direction has already been made and if advantage is 
taken of the Sulzer law it will do much more. The barrel, therefore, should 
be, and is likely to be, the main commercial package for eastern apples. 
There is however an enormous local market and near market trade that 
makes use of various kinds of packages. Of these may be mentioned the flat 
bushel box as used in the Boston market; the carton that is coming into 
favor In many places; and various types of baskets in use everywhere. It 
is remarkable how tenaciously the trade in a certain section will hold to 
some particular type of package. The flat bushel box of the Boston market, 
for instance is the standard local package. It has little to commend it, 
except that the consumer can see, without handling, a large portion of the 
fruit. It is difficult to understand also why the Delaware peach basket has 
become so generally used, not only fo ( r peaches, but for summer and fall 
apples and various other kinds of fruit. It would be difficult to conceive of a 
more awkward package. 
There is a need, therefore, for a local and near market package that 
holds less than the barrel. It is doubtful whether it is possible, or even 
desirable, for all the eastern apple growing sections to unite on a uniform 
package to supply this trade. It does seem desirable, however, for each geo- 
graphical section to select a distinctive package for the local and near market 
trade. The term “near market” is meant to include shipping points within 
a radius of 200 miles, or probably more, or the markets to which it would 
be safe and profitable to* ship fruit in small packages. The purpose in using 
a distinctive package for each section is to supply the consumer with a means 
of determining the location in which the fruit has been grown. Further- 
more, the practice stimulates a greater effort on the part of the growers of 
the various sections to keep their fruit up to the standard, 
f 
The Climax Basket. 
In Connecticut an effort is being made to introduce the climax basket 
for this purpose. This is the package used by the Michigan peach-growers. 
In Ontario it is used for most tree fruits including the apple, especially sum- 
mer and fall varieties of high quality. This package has many desirable 
features, among which may be mentioned: 
1. It may be “nested” when empty. 
I* 2, It may be stacked ten or more tiers high when full. 
3. It is supplied with a handle making it convenient to carry. 
4. It is supplied with a solid board bottom and a raised slat cover that 
prevents bruising the fruit. The latest form of cover slides over the 
handle and prevents the basket from spreading when stacked. 
5. It is inexpensive, costing from three to five cents, depending upon the 
size. 
6. It is easily packed. 
7. It comes in various sizes making it applicable to any sized fruit. 
8. When well packed it makes a very attractive package. 
9. It is a safe package for express and freight shipments. 
A package of this kind of course should be used only for mature fruit; 
that is, fruit ready for consumption. It should be properly branded and if 
