46  JOURNAL  OF  HORl'ICULTU RE 
to  the  selector,  and,  one  ni^y  add,  still  as  disappointing  to 
some  who  invest  at  haphazard  and  afterwards  fall  short  in 
according  common  justice  to  things  which,  so  far  as  they  are 
concerned,  are  on  trial.  Disappointment  brings  with  it  the 
hasty  verdict  of  deception,  and  many  a  new  born  novelty 
presented  under  the  pomp  of  a  high  baptismal  name  is  con¬ 
demned  as  being  brought  into  the  gardening  world  under 
false  pretences.  The  grower  has  been  deceived,  he  will  tell 
you  ;  that  may  be  so,  but  often  it  is  that  he  deceives  himself 
to  more  or  less  extent  by  forming  a  false  judgment  based  on 
insufficient  trial. 
It  should  not  be  lost  sight  of  that  the  novelty  raiser  has 
strained  every  point  to  develop  by  high  cultivation  the  best 
traits  of  character  in  his  protege,  whilst  the  buyer,  bitten 
before  mayhap,  and  biassed  now  maybe,  fails  to  give  it  even 
ordinary  attention.  He  should  not  have  what  he  does  not 
intend  to  try  fairly,  may  be  said.  Exactly  so  ;  but  employers 
often  settle  those  matters  independently  of  their  gardeners. 
Of  the  novelties  annually  offered,  that  all  are  not  im¬ 
provements  goes  without  saying.  Some,  at  least,  of  the 
grand  acquisitions  are  doomed  to  disappear  after  an  expense 
of  time  and  temper  in  trying  them,  but,  as  against  that,  a 
single  season  can  seldom  be  regarded  as  a  fair  test  of  their 
merits,  and  it  would  probably  take  three  years  in  outdoor 
phases  of  culture  to  reduce  those  merits  to  a  fixed  quantity, 
and  show  what  real  advance  has  been  made.  The  gardening 
world  at  large  is  much  indebted  to  the  exhaustive  trials 
which  have  been  given  to  various  subjects  of  more  or  less 
importance  by  public  gardening  institutions,  and  it  would  be 
well  if  all  novelties  could  be  similarly  proved,  and  not  sent 
out  until  thus  hall-marked.  By  comprehensive  comparisons 
we  reach  definite  conclusions.  In  but  few  private  gardens 
is  there  time  or  facility  to  carry  this  out  decisively ;  yet  in 
larger  ones  possibly  more  might  be  done  than  is  done  to 
supplement  public  work,  and  to  the  high-class  gardener  the 
process  should  not  only  be  intensely  interesting,  but  have  a 
fascination  peculiarly  its  own.  Of  its  value  to  cultivators  at 
large  there  can  be  but  one  opinion,  provided  that  the 
method  of  testing  is  thorough  and  systematic,  and  conclu¬ 
sive  results,  so  far  as  the  elasticity  of  the  subject  permits, 
are  clearly  and  concisely  stated  in  the  gardening  papers  pro 
bono  publico. 
Who  could  have  predicted  that  the  craze  for  novelties 
would  have  developed  into  the  acute  form  of  Potatomania 
now  in  evidence  ?  It  is  now  but  stale  news  to  quote  from 
tne  press  marvellous  nrices  which  have  been  recently  ob¬ 
tained  for  new  varieties  of  the  noble  tuber,  but  a  cutting 
from  one  paper  at  hand  says  “  seven  pounds  of  Eldorado 
Potatoes  sold  in  Lincoln  market  for  £700,  the  purchaser 
re-selling  a  portion  at  the  rate  of  £150  per  lb.”  Surely  one 
must  go  back  to  the  Dutch  Tulip  mania  for  a  parallel  to  it, 
and  how  well  it  exemplifies  that,  in  some  respects,  even  on 
this  subject. 
We  arc  the  same  as  our  fathers  have^been  ; 
Wo  see  the  same  sights  that  our  fathers  have  seen; 
We  drink  the  same  stream,  and  we  feel  the  same  sun, 
And  run  the  same  course  that  our  fathers  have  run. 
— A.  N.  Oldhead. 
• - ^ - 
Grading  and  Packing  Fruit  and  Vegetables. 
Intensive  cultivation  has  been  carried  in  many  places  to  a 
high  pitch  of  excellence,  and  British  horticulturists  pride  them¬ 
selves,  justly,  upon  their  skill  as  producers.  Admirable  and 
necessary  as  the  highest  cultivation  must  always  be,  yet  some¬ 
thing  more  is  required  to  ensure  complete  commercial  success, 
namely,  the  conveyance  of  the  produce  in  the  best  possible 
style  to  the  market  or  to  the  consumer.  It  i$  afthis  point 
that  too  many  fail,  and  a  material  proportion  of  unprofitable 
sales  is  mainly  attributable  to  neglect  in  presenting  goods  in 
the  most  Satisfactory  manner.  Proofs  of  this  defect  are 
evident  in  every  British  market, ,  ahd  commonly  the  produce 
of  the  home  grower  may  be  seen  in  direct  contrast  with  that 
of  his  foreign  competitors,  to  the  conspicuous  disadvantage  of 
the  former.  It  is  the  purpose  of  the  following  notes  to  give 
some  directions  that,  with  the  exercise  of  intelligence  in  carry-  > 
AND  COTTA  Ifj  GARDEN ER,.  January  21,  19C4. 
ing  them  out,  may  assist  in  improving  the  selling  value  of  both 
fruits  and  vegetables  as  produced  in  this  country. 
To  aid  in  grading  fruits  to  the  best  advantage,  it  must  be 
assumed  that  the  preliminaries  of  successful  cultivation  have 
I’eceived  due  attention.  The  selection  of  the  best  varieties, 
suitable  sites  and  soils,  with  every  possible  care  in  protecting, 
the  trees  from  attacks  of  insects  and  diseases,  demand  the 
cultivator’s  utmost  skill  and  unceasing  watchfulness.  Finally, 
in  preparing  for  the  actual  work  of  grading,  the  method  and 
time  of  gathering  should  receive  the  strictest  attention,  or 
much  of  the  other  labour  will  be  reduced  in  value.  It  is  not 
sufficiently  recognised  how  readily  all  fruits  are  injured  by 
rough  handling.  Even  hard,  unripe  Apples  and  Pears  are 
soon  bruised,  and  not  only  do  these  marks  show  as  serious- 
defects  in  the  appearance  of  the  fruits,  but  the  keeping  qualities 
are  also  affected. 
One  general  rule  is  applicable  to  all  fruits,  and  that  is,  they 
should  never,  if  it  can  be  avoided,  be  gathered  when  they  are 
wet,  especially  if  they  have  to  be  packed  for  sending  a  long: 
distance.  In  preparation  for  sorting,  the  fruits  should  be  taken 
and  carefully  spread  on  a  table  or  bench,  which  may  slightly 
slope  to  the  front,  and  should  be  of  a  convenient  height  for  the 
packer  to  stand  at.  The  soft  fruits  must  be  conveyed  to  the 
sorting  room  in  shallow  trays  or  baskets,  so  that  they  can  be 
graded  direct  without  turning  them  out.  When  experienced 
hands  are  employed,  some  degree  of  sorting  can  be  done  at  the 
time  of  gathering,  thus  saving  further  handlings  or  removal 
of  the  fruits,  and  the  grower  will  in  every  case  endeavour  to 
reduce  this  to  the  minimum. 
Several  matters  have  to  be  considered  in  the  actual  work 
of  grading,  and  an  intimate  knowdedge  of  the  characteristics 
of  varieties  is  essential  to  the  best  results.  The  effects  of 
seasons  on  large  crops  also  demand  attention  ;  for  the  second 
grade  of  one  crop  might  rank  as  the  first  of  another.  It  is 
impossible  to  lay  down  a  rule  that  would  constitute  a  standard 
equally  reliable  under  all  conditions,  but  a  general  idea  can  be 
given  of  the  relative  values  of  different  grades  under  similar 
circumstances. 
The  points  of  importance  in  classifying  the  best  fruits  are : 
(1)  Freedom  from  injuries  and  blemishes ;  (2)  Good  size  and. 
even  form ;  (3)  Colour ;  (4)  High  quality  with  ripeness. 
The  first  two  are  essential  to  all  high-class  fruits,  and  no 
defective,  distorted,  or  undersized  samples  should  be  allowed 
in  the  leading  grades  of  any  kind.  The  third  quality  is  a 
special  one,  which  always  possesses  a  marked  value  in  fruits 
for  dessert,  and  even  amongst  some  used  for  cooking  or  pre¬ 
serving,  as  in  Apples,  Red  Currants,  Raspberries,  and  Straw¬ 
berries,  for  example.  A  richly-coloured  sample,  though  only 
of  moderate  size,  if  free  from  defects,  will  often  possess  a 
higher  market  value  than  larger  and  duller  fruits.  Cox’s 
Orange  Pippin,  for  in.stance,  if  sold  in  two  grades,  one  large- 
and  dull  or  greeish-yellow,  and  the  other  a  size  smaller,  but 
in  its  best  colour,  will  command  the  larger  price  for  the  latter ; 
and  this  is  true  of  many  other  fruits  where  colour  is  a. 
characteristic  that  is  sometimes  deficient  in  the  larger  sizes. 
As  regards  the  fourth  point,  mere  size  may  also  be  a 
secondary  consideraDon,  provided  the  fruits  are  choice,  in- 
perfect  condition  for  immediate  use,  and  free  from  defects. 
This  especially  concerns  small  packages  of  dessert  fruits,  such 
as  the  finest  Pears,  Plums  of  the  Green  Gage  type,  ripe  Cherries, 
Peaches,  and  Nectarines.  A  special  market  must  be  at  com¬ 
mand  for  such  samples,  or  they  should  be  sent  direct  to  the 
consumers  or  retailers. 
The  bulk  of  fruit  grading  will,  however,  be  mainly  concerned 
with  variations  in  size,  provided  the  essentials  of  good  form 
and  freedom  from  defects  be  secured.  It  is  of  the  utmost 
importance  to  ensure  that  each  grade  be  as  uniform  through¬ 
out  as  close  attention  can  accomplish,  and  then  the  full  value 
of  the  work  is  most  likely  to  be  obtained. 
A  quick  eye  and  some  practice  under  good  guidance  soon 
enable  a  packer  to  select  the  various  sizes  in  a  uniform  manner.. 
Apples  in  particular  can  be  readily  graded  into  several  sizes 
according  to  the  variety  and  the  crop.  Occasionally  four 
well-marked  grades  may  be  obtained ;  in  other  instances 
perhaps  three  are  secured,  and  sometimes  only  two  are  obtain¬ 
able.  The  difference  of  a  quarter  of  an  inch  in  diameter  will 
constitute  a  well-marked  grade.  An  American  Association  has 
adopted  as  the  minimum  standard  for  first  grade  Apples  of  the 
largest  types,  2Iin  diameter ;  while  for  the  smaller  types  23in 
is  the  minimum  diameter  for  first  grade  fruits ;  in  each  case  a 
lin  is  allowed  between  the  firsts  and  seconds.  In  practice  it  is 
found  almost  impossible  to  adhere  to  such  exact  grading ;  the- 
general  standard  and  range  in  size  of  the  crop  or  variety  must 
be  judged,  and  the  graduation  founded  upon  this.  These 
remarlis  especially  refer  to  Apples  for  cooking,  or  dessert 
Apples  equally  well  coloured  ;  but  what  has  been  already  said 
about  the  value  of- colour  must  be  remembered,  and  a  special 
grade  selected  of  Uniform  size  where  there  is  a  proportion  of 
larger  fruits  deficient  in  that  respect;'  -  ’  ^  r  ;■  j  >  ■  - 
