Washington standard. [volume] (Olympia, Wash. Territory) 1860-1921, 1880-05-21
Packing Fruit.

In goingsthtongh the markets OF
San Francisco, it is remarkable to
observe the great difference in the
packing Of fruit. Not unfreauently
fruit grown and shipped from the
same locality will differ greatly in
quality, ana packing; somo shippers
take greatplfle in having their fruit
we'll selected and we'll packed, while
others appear to think that it mat
ters little as to the quality and pack
ing so hey have the quantity. We
find thet the most successful fruit
growers nre extremely careful of the
Reputation of their brands. They
stamp their boxes according to quail
ity. eThe city dealers are thorough
ly copversant with the matter, and, +,
as consequence, certain reputable
brands always have the preference.
If the market is overstocked, the
poorer qualities remain ON hand, to
he gouged into, and tumbled about
during the day, by every two-bit
curiosity-seeker after good bargains.
We have seen chest after chest, and
box after box of fruit disappear from
market stalls like hot cakes before
hungry men. And the secret of
their disappearance was simply q
name and number, while dozens of
other better looking chests, and bet
ter looking boxes, and as good look
ing fruit on top, remained unnoticed
in the stall, Let any fruit or vege-
table raiser spend few mornings in
the markets in this city, and watch
the" way the money goes" and he
will 60 home fully impressed with
the idea that "God made little
apples" and little potatoes to feed
pigs on, and not to send to market.
There was q time-but it is u good
while since when anything called
fruit would sell, but those days have
gone from our gaze like beautiful
dream, aud are not likely to return
until sometime after the millennium,
and we had as we'll make up our
minds TO accept the situation. The
perishable fruit and vegetable supply
is already in excess of the demand;
therefore in order to realize any
profit, the best only should be sent
to the market. If fruit and vegeta-
bles were so selected as to leave the
poorest third at home, the remaining
two-thirds would net more profit
than the whole amount unassorted.
The nice looking potatoes on top
don't help the appearance Of samples
from the middle of the sack, which
are always selected by ripping the
sack Oh the side. Neither do nice
looking oranges, apples or strawber-
rics packed for show. If" honesty
is the best policy as rule, the
maxim is douby true wAen applied
to fruit packing. The difference i'll
the price of the same class of fruit
is we'll illustrated in the current
rates of oranges at this time, which
range all the way from 50 to $36 pc:
thousand, according to quality and
the quality is rated according to size.
Oranges at $50 per thousand pay the
producer handsome profit over and
above all expenses, while oranges at
50 per thousand will hardly pay the
cost of production and freights.
In u few years more only the best
qualities of perishable fruits will pay
to market, and the sooner growers
realize this fact the better it will be
for them. There are four essential
points to be ligidly observed to pro-
duce first class fruits. First, secur-
ing the best varieties; second, loca-
ton congenial to trees selected;
third, proper cultivation, and fourth.
intelligent and thorough pruning Of
the trees first, and afterward, the
fruit when too thickly settled.-Cal
Patron.