Martinsburg statesman-democrat. [volume] (Martinsburg, W. Va.) 1906-1921, 1911-09-22
MARKETING APPLES
TWO CLASSES OF TRADE TO BE
CONSIDERED IN PICKING AND
MARKETING FRUIT.
Interesting Subject Discussed BY VIM.
n. Alderman, Professor of Horti.
culture, West Virginia
University.

considered One of these supplies the
fruit stands and the family tables with
fancy, high quality dessert fruits. The
other supplies the groceries, hotels
and restaurants with cooking apples
These two classes demand an altogeth-
er different kind of fruit with different
packages and different prices. The
| well informed orchardist knows these
two classes and divides his fruit into
two lots so that he may sell to advan.
tage in both markets.
For the first class he knows that he
| must produce the best fruit he is able
| to grow. His varieties must be those
that stand for high quality and attrac-
| tive appearance such as Grimes, iona.
than, Stayman Winesap, Mcintosh and
| Spy. His orchard must be cultivated
| and sprayed, his fruit thinned and
| carefully picked and packed SO that it
| will reach it's destination without
! mark or blemish.
| AS a carrier for this kind of fruit
| the box is rapidly coming into use. II
| makes a neat, attractive package of
convenient size and adapts itself most
readily to skillful and careful packing.
| Obviously 1t is not a package in which
one should put any second class fruit
or varieties not fit for eating out of
hand, because it is more expensive to
pack than the barrel and must be sold
&c. 60, IL
to pack highly colored fruits of the
Ben Davis type in boxes and attempt
to sell them to innocent buyers as high
quality apples, but this is short sight
ed policy for the prices we get in the
future will depend largely upon either
our reputation or our notoriety in the
market.
The boxes are made in two sizes so
as to adapt themselves to all shapes
and sizes of fruits. The STANDARD"
box is 101ax11hx1Sh inches, while
the Special" is 10x11x20 inches in
side measurement. The ends are
made of one piece of wood q inch in
thickness, the sides are also one piece
wood % inch in thickness, while the
"a
inch thick.
To enter into the details of the pack
ing methods is impossible at this time
because of lack of space, but during
the month of September the College
of Agriculture will conduct packing
schC OILS in localities where growers
are anxious to try box packing.
If the box pack is the ideal carrier
for fancy fruit the barrel is also an
excellent package for that great bulk
of fruit known as cooking apples.
These are purchased in quantities and
for relatively smaller price than the
dessert fruits, hence they must be put
up in larger packages and at less ex-
pense. For this purpose the barrel
will probably never be displaced.
Although attractiveness is not so
vital factor in the selling of barreIed
fruit as it is in boxed fruit, still eX-
perience teaches us that it is well
worth while to exercise some pains to
! make the barrel as neat and attractive
as possible. A clean and tidy barrel
! always indicates careful packer and
presupposes good fruit and an honest
! pack. The face" end of a barrel is
! always opened for inspection and this
| should be packed with care If the
fruit is tender or very ripe an excel
! sior pad should first be placed in the
| bottom of the barrel. Lacking this, a
corrugated paper pad is the next best
thing. If an extra fancy touch is de-
slider a cheap circle of fancy, white
paper may be placed next to the cushs
ion. On this lay the "facers" which
have been selected. These should be
of uniform and medium size, we'll col.
| ored and perfect specimens Place
them stem downwards in concentric
| circles so arranged that the last apple
viii just fill the space in the center
without having to select an extra large
or small fruit, One large apple on the
face" will spoil the looks of all the
| other medium sized ones. One LAYER
| of ''facers' is sufficient but over the
| open spaces between the appl Law
I others with the colored side down
ward. Thus a solid color Is presented
to the eye when the barrel is opened
AS the barrel is being filled it should
be well shaken at intervals to settle the
apples into place and to prevent them
from rafting during subsequent hand.
ling. II is not necessary to arrange
the apples on the tail" of the barrel
except to see that they offer a fiat sur.
face for the head. To prevent undue in.
jury to the fruit in pressing in the
head a cushion should be placed in
t4ls end.
After package is completed, be /.
barrel or box, place your name upon
it, or better yet, a neat embossed l..
bel, This is an aid to the purchaser
if he wishes to buy more of your fruit
and at least indicates that the grower
is not ashamed of his product and is
willing to stake his reputation upon
the contents of the package.