GREAT as is the difficulty in having standard packages, the size, shape and capacity of each to be governed by a United States law, as was suggested in our last paper, we note a disposition among the handlers of produce in the New York markets to take this law into their own bands. In brief, we were given to understand that a movement was seriously considered which would force the grower to send his products to market in proper packages. While this movement, to be a success, would require close combination among the dealers, which would be hard to secure, it shows plainly that men who are in a position to judge, feel how serious is the situation. It is, however, worthy of note that the best and most progressive growers have long understood the situation and act accordingly ; this fact makes still more exasperating the strong disposition toward getting produce to market in any shape so long as it gets there, which is too current among the majority of growers.

The question of the division of qualities is so important that at the risk of seeming repetition I desire to particularly emphasize the point. In the question of an aggregate profit resulting from the production of fruits and vegetables, that of quality is most important. Our nurserymen, seedsmen and florists have recently claimed that their several businesses have reached a point where it will be " the survival of the fittest." They come to this conclusion by reason of the strong disposition among some of them to make sales at any cost, and usually this cost is borne by the purchaser. Goods sold for less than their value must be inferior in some respect. These tradesmen have the advantage of the fruit and vegetable grower in that the customer does not see the goods until after he pays his • _ money so the result is simply the loss of a customer. In the case of the fruit grower then, quality counts more largely than almost any other point in his business. There has been so much talk about the miserable livelihood to be obtained from the production of fruits, that it is almost impossible to make people believe that there is even a living to be obtained in the prosecution of this work.

And yet it is evident that by hard, earnest, careful and intelligent work a competence may be obtained in the culture of fruits and vegetables. As a matter of fact the quality of the fruit bears no unimportant part in the successes of fruit growers; we do not mean to be understood that when referring to quality, the edible quality of the fruit is meant entirely; for, unfortunately, the grower has not to cater to the palate of the consumer, but to his eye. Berries, or any other fruit of handsome appearance (good color, form and size) no matter what the quality may be, will command a price in market far in excess of that brought by fruit of good quality and unattractive appearance. This is a strong statement, but circumstances warrant it. Of course there are exceptions to this rule, as when the consumer becomes acquainted with a variety and it suits his eye and taste, the latter especially, it will be bought in preference to all other varieties. Take for example the Shaffer raspberry ; it is unattractive in appearance, being of a dirty purplish hue, yet we never knew one person who had tasted it but what wanted more.

The quality is superb, but it is almost impossible to sell it in any market where not well known.