150 QUEENSLAND AGRICULTURAL JOURNAL. [1 Juny, 1901. — 
To begin the season, many pick too green. Being new in the market, the first are 
readily bought, only to cause disappointment and disgust to the buyer, who will. con 
sequently, not purchase again for some time, thus limiting sale and lowering prices: 
even though well picked and packed. Again, to send what is termed a load, much 
immature is picked and mixed with mature and saleable fruit. This isa great mistake, 
as the good by itself would realise the double amount as when badly picked and mixed. 
Again, the nature of each variety should be fully known, as some may be picked green 
and will ripen with good colour and flavour, while others turn hard and tasteless. The 
time when each variety may be profitably gathered can only be known after careful 
observation and experience. ome: picking should be done only by experienced 
ersons. Further, all fruit should be picked, not shaken, from the trees and care — 
Hy placed, not thrown, into baskets. Jf shaken from the trees, the fruit may 
get pierced or bruised in falling; a few only thus damaged in a_ case 
will spoil sale, and, consequently, they will only realise about half price 
The fruit should not be left in the sun. It turns most fruit dull in colour and — 
tends to softness, thereby damaging rice and quality. Care should also be exercised 
that the fruit is perfectly dry, not only from rain but also from dew, as such generally — 
discolours and causes the same to keep badly. | The distance of market and nature of — 
climate need careful consideration. For short distances, especially if colder fruit ma 
be fairly ripe, while for distant markets, especially to a hotter climate, the fruit shoul 
be picked as green as possible, always providing the fruit is fully matured. Here let 
me strongly condemn the practice followed by many in picking for home markets, and 
then on finding that glufted send to long distant markets, expecting it to carry and to 
bring satisfactory returns. They cannot expect such results, and yet many éases are 
frequently heard of where the shippers or growers condemn the market, and vilify the 
salesman when in reality it is their own thoughtlessness. 
Summarised.—Fruit must be fully matured; send only what is of good qual | 
not to mix good with bad. The nature of each variety should be carefully studied. 
The fruit must be picked, not shaken from the tree. n no account pick when damp _ 
with dew or rain. Study the distance of the market, also climatic conditions when — 
picking. i 
Packine.—All must know that well-picked and packed and graded fruit packed — 
in usual marketable size, clean and neat cases, will realise the highest market rates. 
Thus, if growers wish to succeed im all instances, fruit must be carefully packed by 
hand, not thrown into case; case must be well filled and neatly finished. Jf fruit 
is of uneven size a good plan is to leave off the bottom instead of the lid of case. Thus — 
top will be packed first, giving it a neat and finished appearance. In this way small 
fruit can be made to look very neat. In the case of cherries the stalks will not appear: 
and, in many, fruit designs can be made such as crowns, or hearts, &e., which look well 
on opening iid. In packing do not top—that is, put the very best on top, neither put 
the small or discoloured in centre. This is so soon known by purchaser and the brand 
condemned, causing ultimate loss to packer. 
Wrapping Fruit.—This is needed for the English market, and is greatly done by 
the American and Italian packers, but generally for the Australian market it is best 
not to wrap fruit. To wrap, the grower must have a quantity of uniform size and 
colour, or buyers hold off, considering that paper is used to fill case or to cover some — 
defect. Hence small shippers should not wrap. For short distances close cases are 
the best, as fruit ripens brighter and of a richer colour when not exposed to air. j 
Grading.—N ot much of this can be done except on Jarge orchards where it is” 
essential to success. For small and local markets two grades only are needed. Moore 
than this causes more loss than gain. In some cases, sorting two or three cases out of 
about ten will be sufficient, marking them No. X and sending the others plain. As 
orchards or markets get larger, further grades will be necessary. As to cases as_ 
regards shape and size, this is a question at present unsettled, consequently I do not 
think it becomes me to touch on this. At present use the cases in general use now in — 
the markets where fruit is to be sent. } 
For apples, the Tasmanian apple case, especially the dump or English case, is in” 
most favour with buyers. The Sydney light wood orange cases meet with most 
favour for oranges and lemons, also for soft variety of pears. ; 
As to quarter-cases, as they are called, at present they are made in.all shapes and 
sizes, so I will not go into any particulars with regard to them. The best classes of 
pears, peaches, plums—in fact, all soft stone fruits, tomatoes, gooseberries, apricots 
&c., should always be sent in quarter-cases. 
Grapes.—No special case has yet been devised for these, but the long Tasmanian ~ 
bushel and half-bushel cases find most fayour at present. 
