PACKING FRUIT.

King Country Chronicle, Volume VI, Issue 505, 2 October 1912, Page 6

PACKING FRUIT.

An Australian orchardisfc who recently visited Canada pays a high tribute to the method of packing fruit in that country. "The bulk of it," he remarked, "is placed in exceedingly dainty baskets "made of thick wood shavings, and having neat handles, and is covered with 'leno,' a material likes strong coarse mosquito netting, of a bright red colour. This is fastened to the frames and fits nicely over the top of the basket. The fruit, on being picked, is placed directly into the baskets, and is not touched again until it ia taken out by the purchaser. The baskets are of varying size and with their contents are quoted at so many cents each in the shops. Seme of the baskets are put up specially for picnickers; others contain mixed fruits, and others again are filled with fruit of one kind so that all demands are cattered for. The baskets are so dainty and handy that nobody hesitates to carry them. Ladies wearing kid gloves and gentlemen leaving their offices may be sean taking them home. The fruit is put up in such an attractive way that J made it my business to visit one of the factories where the baskets are manufactured. The machinery used in the process is exceedingly simple. A log of pine wood, roughly rounded is placed in a machine on the lathe principle, and the cutting tools take off shavnigs of the desired thickness and width the whole length of the log. these shavings are broken into the required lengths, and placed for a while in a drying ruom to giva them the necessary toughnesß. Planks of timber are sawn up as needed to make the buttoms, about a dozen of which are clamped together, and rapidly rounded off by another machine. The different materials are then given to boys, who soon produce the finished baskets. The whole work is performed expeditiously and effectively. I inquired concerning the price 3 of the baskets, and learned that with the handles attached, nested, packed, and loaded for shipment, they can be delivered at Montreal at 4 dols. 70 cents, a hundred to hold 11 quarts and 4dols. 20 cents to hold six quarts."

WHAT A COW-TESTING ASSOCIATION CAN DO.

With increased cost of every item which goes into the maintenance of a dairy herd, from wrapping paper to hay, and from the fencing around the farm to the labour required in every operation, has come the absolute nece3sitj of getting every part of the dairy on a paying basis or else facing a deficit either in money,, which is likely, or in depreciation of the farm land, or in underpaid labour. All of which ia primary and fundamental experience with the eastern cow man. For this fact remains: Well tilled land will produce crops sufficient to pay a fair return on labour and investment even if sold in the open market. The feeding of the farm crop to a dairy cow, and the production by that cow of milk and its further handling on the farm into butter and cheese — provided always that the cow is a satisfactory dairy animal provided always that the cow is a satisfactory dairy animal is proven to be the most profitable way of disposing of the products of the farm, under existing conditions of demand and cost of transportation and at the same time returns the largest possible conservation of fertility to the land itself. What, then, is the answer? First, the cow must be a satsifactory dairy animal. Second, the manner of the farm management must be such as to get a maximum of the best food possible out of the soil to use as raw material for the cow machine to produce milk. Here hinges the question of dairy pre-em. : nence. The state whose farmers learn best to prodcue the most valuable and effective feeding materials from their land, and who learnhow tu build their dairies up with te best possible dairy cows will lead the world in the excellence, the volume, and tha value of its dairy products. Denmark is the shining example of the entire world, and in Denmark the key to the result is the cow-testing associations. For in dairying, as in fruit culture, the ultimate profit depends upon the profit of each individual, cow, or tree, or vine. The value of a dairy herd is measured not by its best member in her best month, but by the average of all its members for twelve months, and this average is pulled down by its poorest member, as much as it is raised by its best and there is no way known to know just what each cow is doing but by actual test. Without fear of successful contradiction it can be asserted and shouted broadcast that the dairy expert does not exist who can even tell the beat cow from the poorest in a herd except by the scales aud the Babcock tester, nor the value of a cow without an experience covering a full twelve months.

This is a plea for the organisation of cow-testine associations based upon actual experience which has come under the observation of the writer. First of all, why an association —why not individual testing. The only reason is because the average individual will not start, and continue the teat, and it must be thorough and complete to mean anything. If the individual will do it, it is good, the best dairymen already do this, but the problem is to bring about better conditions on the average dairy farm, and the average dairyman will not do the testing. Experience shows he will not even weigh the milk from each cow as liked, although this alone is a wonderful help. The only successful way devised is by the association scheme.

Why is testing necessary? Because testing has shown that almost half the dairy cows in herdß here testing work has been done for a period of one year and longer, were being kept at an actual loss. How many of your cows are making profits? Which ones are not? How do you know? There is no way but the test—weighing the milk and figuring the cost of feed, labour and pasturage.