Secretary's Budget. 35 



n 



distances without a solid pressure to prevent all shaking or rattling 

 in the package : 



If I were asked to epitomize grape packing, I should say pack 

 tightly, for therein lies the whole secret, or, at any rate, so much of 

 it that every other detail is but of secondary importance. Many run 

 away with the idea that they cannot do anything better than en- 

 velop each bunch loosely in paper ; whereas they could scarcely find 

 a surer way of reducing the value of their grapes. The paper 

 rubs the bloom off, and does not in any way add to the security of 

 the berries. I have more than once seen grapes unpacked in Cov- 

 ent Garden which were much damaged in this way and I remember 

 very particularly a splendid sample of Lady Downes, and which 

 had come a long journey, coming out all bruised and crushed ; they 

 were not worth the cost of transit. "Look here," said the recipi- 

 ent, a Centre Row fruiterer, "did you ever see grapes packed like 

 these — thick paper round each bunch? If they had been dropped 

 into the box and the lid shut down on them without further trouble 

 they would have come better." 



We pack our grapes very simply and they never sustain injury : 

 we have never had a bunch reduced in value by transit in a period 

 of twelve years. Some soft hay is placed at the bottom of the box 

 or basket, a sheet of paper goes on that and the sides are lined with 

 paper. The bunches are then put in as closely together as it is 

 possible to get them, no play being allowed. A few leaves are put 

 on the top and a sheet of paper, on which the lid shuts down with 

 pressure sufficient to prevent the bunches shifting. This is very 

 important, especially when they have a long journey to make, as 

 in the hurry of getting parcels out of various stations the basket^ 

 are not always as gently handled as they should be. In a general 

 way we use what are termed "pea-baskets," that is to say such as 

 come from abroad early in the spring filled with green peas. These 

 hold about fifteen pounds, but for a long journey I should not care to 

 put more than ten pounds together. This year we have used some 

 of the cross-handled baskets which the Jersey men use. The 

 handle in a manner necessitates mild usage, as it is so much easier 

 to lift them about in this way that no one would give himself the 

 trouble to pitch them about roughly in the way square hampers 

 often get served. An excellent plan is to fix a stout rope to the 

 tops of baskets ; this enables the railroad official, to lift them easily 

 without handles ; whereas, if no grasp is visible, he per force 

 seizes them in both arms, and naturally experiences some difficulty 

 in lowering them gently to the ground. 



