The Pleasantville press. (Pleasantville, N.J.) 1912-1929, 1915-07-24
SUGGESTED GRADES AND
MARKS FOR PEACHES.

There is no uniform standard of
marking and grading peaches in use
in eastern peach districts. Such terms
as fancy" "extra fancy" or "choice"
are applied differently in nearly ev-
cry case. For instance, the term lex
ira fancy" may be found in one case
upon clean, highly-colored, medium
sized Elbertas; and in another upon
large, poo~rly-colored and partly scab-
bed Elbertas. Under such conditions
the mark is worthless unless the in
dividual happens to be known.
1t is evident that size and high col
or and quality should be indicated by
distinct terms. A large peach may
be of much poorer color and quality
than a medium or small one. Color
is closely associated with quality
when comparisons are made between
fruits of the same variety grown in
the same section.
The horticulturist of the New Jer-
sey Agricultural Experiment Station
suggests the following grades and
marks as the solution of a uniform
grading and marking system for New
Jersey peach growers.
Size of peaches to be marked on
each package in terms of Large"
medium" and "Small"; Large" to
indicate peaches more than 8 inches in
circumference; Medium, peaches
between 7 and 8 inches in circumfer-
ence; "Small", peaches less than 7
inches in circumference. Peaches
much less than 7 inches in equatorial
circumference must be packed A tiers
per till in a Georgia carrier to fill a
crate properly, and such fruit is ex-
p%ensive to pack. 1t would seem that
it could be marked appropriately as
"Small". All peaches IA to 8 inches
in equatorial circumference can be
packed 2-1, three tiers per till in
| Georgia carriers, and cover a size Of
fruit preferred by the great bulk Of
the trade. Peaches much more than
8 inches in equatorial circumference
are too large to pack 3 tiers per till
in Georgia carriers.
Quality of the peaches to be mark
ed on carriers in terms Of Extra
Fancy" "Fancy" and Common; the
first to be permissible only upon fruit
free from blemishes and Of unusually
high color and quality for the variety;
the second upon fruit free from blem-
ishes and well colored for the variety;
and the third to be applied to any
fruit blemished by scab, c%urculio
f, stings or other injuries, or to fruit
| that is below average color for the
variety, even when free from blem-
ishes.
Some may object to this last CLASH
fication, but if the fruit is below
standard it will sell for such in any
event. If the grower marks it fancy,
it indicates either that he is ignorant
of what good fruit is or hopes that
| the mark will counterfeit poor quail
ty. Such a practice will destroy the
reputation of any mark in a very
short time.
The following marks may occur
for any variety, as here indicated for
liberia.
Extra Fancy, Small liberia; Extra
Fancy, Medium liberia; Extra Fan
cy, Large liberia; Fancy, Small Ell
berta; Fancy, Medium liberia; Fancy
Large liberia; Common, Small Ell
berta; Common, Medium liberia;
| Common, Large liberia.
Of course only a few of the marks
would be used by any n grower in
the case of a single variety. A grow
er having well-sprayed and well,
thinned Elbertas, for instance, would
use the marks "Fancy, Medium Ell
berta" or "Fancy, Large liberia" on
most of his packages. He would
have few crates or baskets to mark
either "Small" or Common. If his
fruit was exceptionally good he would
use the marks Extra Fancy, Medi-
UNI Elberta", and "Extra Fancy,
Large Elberta" to a great extent.
The variety should be indicated on
the package.
These marks should be made up in
the form of rubber stamps so that
packages could be stamped rapidly.
Uniformly ripened, graded and pack
ed fruit, free from blemishes and
marked according to an established
standard should be the aim.