Iron County register. [volume] (Ironton, Iron County, Mo.) 1867-1965, 1884-10-23
Packing Fruits.

While we are inclined by fellow
feeling which we are told ''makes us
wondrous KIND to defend our brother
farmers from unjust asperslons upon
their probity, yet we can not refrain
upon that account from consistently
pointing out to them their faults and
earnestly enjoining any needed refor-
nation. And timely homily might be
given to farmers upon the subject OF
acking fruits. This text was brought
to mind very recently upon seeing
some crates OF peaches opened in the
market. They were what is called
sandwiched or plated. All outside
were tair specimens of good size US lar
as could be seen, but under these were
runts and cul1s of a very mean kind.
Probably this sort OF dishonest pack ing
is more common among peaches than
with any other fruit, but it is at times
found to be praeticed, with apples and
pears and also with potatoes. 1t is very
mean business. But it is worse than
that; it is excessively foolish, for it
does not profit the packer in the least,
and he. has some labor for his pains in
the trouble of packing his products in
this way. and he loses money by it. 1t
is double loss, in fact. 1t reminds us
of that foolish bird, the ostrich. which
is said to hide itS mead in the sand when
pursued, and because it can not see it
believes it is not seen.
Now. the dishonest, foolish, and self
deluded farmer, who is SO wanting IN
self-respect as to make himself known
as cheat in this way, never. deceivej
anybody. His vain tricks ard
well known to the purchasers of his
fruit, ETC., and they discount the value
every time No doubt the commission
agent laughs in his sleeve as he opens
the crates and packages and finds
therein as he expected, and credits tn ell
-victimized farmers with the exact
value of the poorest specimens in the
lot, for this mode of packing damns|
the good with the bad, and the good
never raises the. value of the bad onea
cent. This is the foolishness of it. The|
dishonesty is undisguised, but the fool
ishness is, in many cases, not per
ceived by the one who commits it, and
therefore we call attention to the com
mon practice which is a blot upon thd
general character of farmers, who al \
suffer alike in public estimation.
In packing fruits for market different
grades should be separated. The fnei
kinds will sell for double or treble al
much as mixed lot. The retailer j
obliged to Gull out the poorest ane
select the best, and it is not in humae
nature to work for any other man, O
do work which he should have done.
for nothing. The apple and pear sea-
SON is begun. and the potato season
will soon begin. We should urge
every farmer to sort shipments Aid pack
them separately, and mark the pack
ages first second and third, as the case
may be, and put his name on the pack
ages, so that in time when suspicion,
Justly prevalent and Watchful, is dis
armed, his. marks may give confidence
and he may acquire a character for
thorough honesty. FaIstaff remark,
elbow this world is given to.lying," IS
as applicable now as it was three CEN
turtles 20. But those who practice.
this deception in. packing fruit only
rob themselves. and are and always
will be poor. while the shippers whose
marks are known whe rever their goods
may go get extreme prices and the best
trade, and are rich. Thus .'honesty is
the best policy IN packing straw
berries, peaches, apples, potatoes, and
other farm produce, as well as in pc
cuniafy matters. IL AZ u Times go