20 The Bulletin. 



ing and interference "U'itli the work of the packers. The packers' bench 

 should be made about 5 feet wide and about 6 or 8 inches deep, with a 

 slight slope toward the inside of the shed. It should be divided at regu- 

 lar intervals of 3 or 4 feet, forming bins which will facilitate both 

 grading and packing. Pieces of board should be attached so that they 

 project about the width of a crate, thus forming a support for the crates 

 while they are being packed. 



The packer works on the inside (see Fig. 7), and grades as he packs. 

 In some of the sheds the crates are placed directly on the table. When 

 this is done the packer is handicapped, and cannot work as fast as when 

 the crate is placed on a support. A good temporary crate support can 

 be made by using two standard crates, placing one on the ground and 

 the other on top of it at an angle of about 30°. The two crates arc then 

 fastened together by two slats on each side. This arrangement makes a 

 very desirable support, and is easily moved from place to place, allow- 

 ing the packer to move along the table as necessity demands. 



PACKING. 



While grading is one of the essential factors having a distinct relation 

 to good prices, packing is also one of the important items in the success- 

 ful marketing of cantaloupes. A clean package which is neat and 

 attractive, bearing a distinctive label, will always be given preference 

 over a package Avhich is unsightly. A good package helps to sell the 

 fruit. The full benefit from careful grading can never be received if 

 careless methods of packing predominate. Fruit should be so placed 

 that it will fit snugly in the package without being forced and bruised 

 while being placed by the packer. The style of package called for by 

 the markets served by this State is the slatted crate made in two sizes, 

 namely, the standard crate, measuring 12x12x22 inches, and the. 

 "pony" crate, measuring 11 x 11 x 22 inches. The standard crate is 

 used chiefly for Avhat is known as the standard size melon, which packs 

 45 to the crate, but is also used for the Jumbo size, which packs 36 to 

 a crate. The pony crate is used for the pony size cantaloupes, which 

 pack 54 to a crate. Occasionally a grower may have many odd-size 

 melons, and then variations in the pack must be made according to size. 

 In such cases the cantaloupes are then packed 19, 27, and 32 in a 

 standard crate and 64 in a pony crate. However, this is rarely done, 

 as it is poor practice to send melons of such odd sizes to the market. 

 (See Fig. 8.) Preference is always given to the Jumbo size, packing 36, 

 and the standard, packing 45 fruits to a crate. 



Care should be used in placing the cantaloupes all one way in the 

 package. (See Fig. 9.) If they are ridged, they should be placed so that 

 the ridges are all parallel with the sides of the crate. If the melons are 



