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BOX vs. BAEREL. 



The question of boxes versus barrels has been discussed in Eastern Canada for 

 a number of years. In British Columbia, no barrels are used at the present time. 

 In Ontario, however, conditions are such that it would seem neither package 

 possesses all the virtues. The package used must be dependent largely on the grade 

 of fruit, the variety, and the market. 



Regarding the small package, the following points have been pretty well 

 established : — 



1. All fancy high-priced apples should be shipped in boxes. 



2. Only the best grades are preferred. 



3. The box is the only practical package in which an apple can be transported 

 with any reasonable degree of economy, in a fit condition for the highest export 

 trade. 



As already stated, box packing is still in its infancy in Ontario. For several 

 years past, a few shippers have been using the box regularly, while others have 

 merely experimented with it. Those who use the box regularly, pack their better 

 grade of fruit in it, and consider it the better package, while the experimenters 

 have, in only a few cases, pronounced the box a success. This is doubtless due to 

 the fact that nearly all those using the box on trial did so with unexperienced 

 packers. In some cases, the boxes were packed like barrels; that is, the box was 

 faced as in barrel packing, and the remainder of the apples simply rolled in on 

 top of this. The package was then finished in every respect like barrel packing, 

 with no attempt at arranging the apples in tiers. Naturally, the results were not 

 in accord with what these men had doubtless heard about box-packed fruit, and 

 it would obviously be unfair to draw conclusions regarding box versus barrel from 

 such experiments. Undoubtedly both packages have a place — the box for the high- 

 class trade and the barrel for the other. 



PACKIN-G. 



The following paragraph taken from an article by Eoy C. Brock, in the Sep- 

 tember issue of Better Fruit for 1911, gives a comprehensive idea of the under- 

 lying principles of box-packing. 



" Packing is the classification of fruit in the proper sizes by placing fruit of 

 the same size solidly into boxes in such a manner as to insure uniformity of appear- 

 ance, neatness, and protection from bruising. The purpose of careful packing is 

 to make the box of fruit as attractive as possible to the purchaser, and obtain 

 thereby for it the highest possible price." 



Following out the idea contained in these few words, the essentials of a good 

 pack may be briefly stated as follows : — 



1. The pack must be so firm that there is no chance for the fruit to shift in 

 any way. To have this possible, it is almost necessary that each apple touch all 

 those surrounding it in the proper way. 



2. Bulge probably ranks next to firmness in importance. The purpose of the 

 bulge is that as the packed apples shrink during storage, the cover will contract, 

 and thus continue to hold the apples firm. While this is the primary reason for a 

 bulge, it probably has a beneficial influence on the purchaser also. 



" A bulge of 11/4 to lyo inches, counting both top and bottom of the box, is 

 sufficient. A bulge of 2 inches or more is unnecessary and undesirable, as the 

 fruit is more liable to be bruised. 



3. Regularity of pack is very important. On no account should a box be 

 started with one size of apple and finished with another, or the style of pack 



