fruit, usually even with profit. Many of the Leading railway com- 

 panies have recognised this fact, and now supply boxes of various Bizes 

 at Ls. <"></. to 5s. per dozen, while several manufacturers also supply to 

 large orders a1 very reasonable prices. 



Various materials are available for packing- purposes, but much 

 the best are the several grades of wood wool now prepared, the 

 coarsest being suitable lor Large packages and heavy fruits, and the 

 finest softest samples lor the choicest and ripe fruits. I >nt wherever 

 it is to be in contact even with apples and pears only the softest make 

 should be employed : and rougher samples can be used for the bottom, 

 or filling up at the top. All choice and delicate fruits should be 

 encircled with bands of folded soft tissue paper, having a glazed sur- 

 face, which must be in contact with the fruit. This is also required 

 to place over the top layers, but a stronger paper is used for unripe 

 apples or pears. 



In the actual work of packing, an even layer of wood wool is 

 placed at the bottom of the box or basket, this being covered with a 

 sheet of paper, and upon it the fruits to be disposed of are placed 

 firmly. The best plums, pears, or dessert apples should never be in 

 more than two layers, and in the smallest boxes holding one layer 

 they travel in the finest condition. If only one layer of fruits is made, 

 the packing material at the bottom, and that at the top, besides the. 

 folded paper band round each fruit, will be all that is essential : but 

 if there are two layers, they must be separated by two sheets of paper, 

 and sufficient fine wood wool evenly spread to prevent injury to tin- 

 lower fruits, and form a firm bed for the upper ones to rest upon. 

 From one dozen to four dozens of the best dessert apples, pears, or 

 plums may be so packed in one box with safety for a long journey. 

 Peaches, nectarines, and apricots must always be in single layers, and 

 demand the utmost care. 



Strawberries can be packed in from 3 lb. to 6 lb. of selected fruits, 

 but the first named quantity is the best for the finest fruit, and the 

 smallest of the railway boxes just holds that amount conveniently, al- 

 lowing for a little packing material at the top and bottom. The same 

 size box will hold 4 lb. of the best cherries, 3 lb. of raspberries without 

 their stalks, 3 lb. red currants (closely packed), or 4 lb. of black 

 currants : but the last two may be packed in 6 lb. to 12 lb. lots if not 

 too ripe ; the smaller quantities are, however, preferable and safe]-. 

 The finest early strawberries should be packed in 1 lb. punnets, which 

 may be either deep or shallow, round-plaited chip punnets, or square 

 ones (with or without handles). The round punnets, are best packed 

 in trays with lids, and those generally employed will take -ix punnets. 

 They are only used for the earliest and choicest fruits, when prices are 

 good. Crates can be employed to hold several such trays, those large 

 enough for six being a convenient size and weight. The square pun- 

 nets are packed more closely together on sliding shelves or in trays 

 like the others in crates. Grapes are packed in shallow or handle 

 baskets, the points of the bunches towards the centre and the stalks 

 secured to the sides or rims, the top of the basket being covered with 

 stout paper tied round the rim or some handle-basket are fitted with 

 lids. The sides and base of the baskets are sometimes padded, but they 

 are then always covered with a soft glazed paper. The great point is 

 to avoid rubbing the surfaces of the berries and spoiling the " bloom." 



