19 



When unwrapped, of course this difierence in firmness cannot be made and 

 the packer has therefore to take advantage of the small irregularities and differ- 

 ences in the sizes of the apples. This diiference in size must not be so great as to 

 attract attention. It is essential to begin the bulge with the first layer of fruit and 

 to pack each layer with the same end in view. 



In finding a pack too flat it is usually no use to repack the top layer, as the 

 trouble probably extends right through the box. The bulge should form an un- 

 broken arch when the box is finished, so that the pressure of the lid will be equally 

 distributed over the fruit. A bulge high in the centre and dropping off to the 

 sides will not be held firmly in place by the cover, causing the whole pack to 

 become loose. 



Packing A pples Before and After Storing, 



There are several points in favor of packing apples after storing, the principal 

 ones being as follows: 



1. Packers can be given employment for a longer period of time. The fruit 

 need only be packed as it is required for the market. 



2. Unless the fruit can be stored at a sufficiently low temperature, diseases 

 which cannot be noticed at the time of storing are likely to develop. If the fruit is 

 packed before storing, it will go on the market in this state, while if packed only 

 as it is needed all fruit showing any rot or scab can be graded out. 



3. There is a much better circulation of air, as orchard boxes are especially 

 constructed to this end. Fungous diseases will spread less rapidly in consequence, 

 other conditions being equal. 



In favor of packing beftre storing, it may be said that much less room is 

 required to store the fruit. This is an important consideration where space is 

 limited. Further, any sudden demand or rise in prices can be more promptly 

 attended to. 



If the fruit is wrapped there are of course several other advantages of packing 

 before storing. The spread of fungous diseases is prevented ; the fruit keeps longer ; 

 and it is protected from changes in temperature. 



WRA PPING. 

 Wrapped vs. Unwrapped. 



The question of wrapping fruit is attracting more and more attention each 

 year from eastern growers, and rightly so. In the Western States and British 

 Columbia practically all No. 1 stock is wrapped. Conditions, however, are some- 

 what different in Ontario, so that wrapping at present should be governed by the 

 variety of apple and the market. Western growers are building up a high class 

 market with this class of product. It is doubtful if it would pay the ordinary 

 grower who has no special market to wrap his fruit at present. 



Briefly, the advantages of wrapping are as follows: 



1. It improves the keeping quality by preventing disease spreading from fruit 

 to fruit. 



