78 STATE HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY. 



PACKING AND SELLING MICHIGAN APPLES IN PONES. 



A. M. BULLOCK, LAPEER. 



The manner of packing Michigan apples seems to be at about as un- 

 certain a stage as the Kspraying was two years ago. 



To the successful apple grower the question of how to pack and dispose 

 of his crop is certainly a vital one. For some reason commission men 

 and buyers generally are opposed to the using of boxes for the packing 

 of Michigan apples. The cold storage charge nearly as much for the 

 storing of a bushel box as they do for the barrel. Thus putting one who 

 uses the box at a disadvantage. 



From the limited exjterience of the writer it would seem as though 

 aiiples as ordinarily put up in barrels are in such condition they appeal 

 to no one. 



Those who Avish fancy fruit do not care to pay a good price for a lot 

 of culls, and those who wish the cheaper grades can not aftord to i»ay 

 for fancy ones. 



The one who raises good fruit does not care to have the same allow- 

 ance made in ])rice for poor a]>ides in the center of the barrel as is made 

 for apples which have only enough good ones for facers. Probably be- 

 cause he hasn't enough poor ones to keep up with the other fellow. 

 These conditions are not helped at all by boxing where poor fruit is ]mt 

 in boxes. During the past season the writer has seen ajiples in boxes 

 which should not have been put into a barrel of twos. 



One of the first essentials in boxing is to secure good substantial boxes 

 of standard dimensions holding a bushel. In using the light boxes they 

 are liable to warp, thus causing the pack to be uneven, and they are 

 also liable to split and break oi)en and the fruit is more liable to be 

 bruised and injured. 



Good paper should also be provided, the large sheets being cut just 

 a trifle shorter than the box and long enough so that two sheets will 

 reach around the box, leaving no sjiace between for the ajjples to come 

 in contact with the outside air. The small sheets should be just a tritle 

 smaller than the inside dimensions of the box. It should be tough and 

 impervious to the air. Apples covered or wrapped Avith jtaper retain 

 their flavor and freshness better than when exposed to the atmosphere. 



A packing table should be provided sufficiently large to allow tAVo 

 persons to sort and tAvo to pack. One that has given satisfaction is about 

 three by six feet, coA-ered Avith burlap in such a Avay as to leave no sharp 

 points to cut and bruise the fruit. Pieces should also be put across 

 one end extending far enough beyond the table to hold two boxes on 

 each end. The boxes should be held at a slight angle to prevent the 

 apples rolling as they are i)]aced in the boxes. 



The packing of the three, four and five tier boxes is very simple, merely 

 putting the required number of ai>ples in rows across the box. To pack 

 the three and one-half tier an apple should be placed in one of the lower 

 corners and another about tAA^o-thirds of the Avay across the end of the 

 box. Then one should be placed against the side opposite from the first 



