ushels, all Willow Twigs,
unharvested, it was an anxious time for me. The second day was cloudy
with the temperature at thirty-four degrees, just freezing, and the
following night it remained at the same point, for we were enough
interested to note the temperature. This continued up until noon of the
third day, when the frost was out of the apples and we proceeded with
our picking. These apples kept perfectly and were sold the next May at
$4.50 per barrel. There was no perceptible difference between the
apples picked before or after the freeze. Two years later my experience
was different. We were caught with 1,000 bushels on the trees by an
equally severe freeze. The sun came out bright the following morning,
and by noon the temperature was up to fifty degrees. The apples turned
brown and looked like they had been baked. They were good only for
vinegar. The variety in both cases was Willow.

In packing apples it is a good plan to use a corrugated paper cap on
both ends of the barrel, in addition to a waxed paper next to the apples
on the face end, stenciled with the name of the grower and his
postoffice address. Use uniform sized apples for the face as much as
possible, and of good color. The face is permitted to be 20 per cent.
better than the contents. Drop facing I consider best for the second
layer rather than double facing, as it holds the face apple in position
better and presents a more solid face to the buyer when opened. The
barrels should be filled uniformly from bottom to top with an even grade
of fruit. No reputable packer will attempt any fraud upon the purchaser
in this respect. In tailing off the barrel preparatory to putting in the
head, the better way is to face the apples on their side in concentric
rings with the color side of the apple up. I would not select these
apples as to size or color, but let them correctly represent both as
they run through the barrel. There can be no objection, however, to your
putting the colored side of the apple up. We should always look as well
as we can, and first impressions if good, while not always lasting, are
desirable in the apple business of inspecting packages. In filling the
barrel care must be taken to gently settle the apples into place by
shaking the barrel from time to time as it is filled. After the bottom
is faced off the corrugated cap is placed on the apples, with the smooth
side next to the apples, and the head pressed into place. It is well to
use hea