FIFTY-FIRST ANNUAL KEPORT. Ill 



then, three sacks crosswise of the car in the holhnv l)otween the first six 

 sacks and the adjacent three; then place six sacks snugly together directly 

 in hne and above the first six sacks (these will be the distance of one-half 

 the width of a sack away from the ends of the car) ; on top of these place 

 six more sacks against the end of the car; then place three sacks crosswise 

 of car against the first three sacks which were placed on the floor, and in 

 the hollow where these two series of three sacks each meet place three 

 more sacks crosswise of the car. From this point forward thru the 

 load fill all hollows in like manner until you are within about four feet 

 of the doorway. Then, place six sacks crosswise of car against the last 

 floor series of three crosswise sacks and build up the face of the load with 

 layers of sacks in each tier, six wide with one end tightly against pre- 

 ceding sacks which were loaded three wide crosswise of car. This should 

 safely bulkhead the load in the ends of the car and set the floor tier sacks 

 back from the doorsill at least six inches. 



In severe cold weather to keep the corner sacks away from the cold 

 corner of the car in the floor tier, leave out one bag from those loaded in 

 series of six and turn one bag end to end of car of the sacks which were 

 loaded in series of three. This permits of a space of about six inches be- 

 tween the side walls and the sacks on the floor tier. 



If the weather is very cold, additional protection may be gained by 

 building racks along the sides of the car, composed of two by fours about 

 23^ feet long, angling away from the side of the car a distance of one foot 

 to one and one-half feet; and against these two by fours nail one by six 

 boards, lengthwise of the car; and against these boards load the sacks 

 in the manner above prescribed. These side racks will preserve an air 

 space between the cold corner of the car and the sacks. 



A stove can be secured in the doorway and arrangements made to 

 facilitate exit for chimney and entrance for messenger. The messenger 

 must travel with car when stove is burning and must ride in caboose 

 when train is moving. 



BUSHEL BASKET. 



The bushel basket is a convenient and economical container but is not a 

 safe container for the transportation of fruits and vegetables unless the 

 following factors are given detailed consideration : 



1. The baskets must be of strong and durable material, designed and 

 constructed properly. Staves of a bushel basket must be at least 20 

 in number 2 3-16 inches wide and the thickness of a stave varies with 

 the character of the wood, from 1-14 to 1-20 of an inch. Generall\ 

 speaking, baskets should not be used in transportation whose staves arc 

 less than 1-18 of an inch in thickness and made of hard maple, beach, 

 birch and woods of equal strength; though Gum, soft maple, soft elm 

 and oak is satisfactory if cut 1-16 inch in thickness. Cottonwood is 

 sometimes used but must not be less than 1-14 of an inch in thickness. 

 The belly-band or center hoop should encompass the basket at a point 

 equidistant from the top and bottom of same. The slope to the side of 

 the basket from the top to the bottom should be as near perpendicular as 

 possible and still permit of telescoping the empty basket for shipping 

 purposes. The round raised cover has proven itself to be most satis- 

 factory. Aim to secure baskets with as wide a bottom surface area as 

 possible and always of one type of cover, preferably round. If the 



